FIFA Club World Cup Was a Test for the US: Wins and Woes Ahead of 2026

Newsweek

3 days ago

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The roar inside MetLife Stadium on Sunday when Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3–0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final sounded like a triumph for soccer in the United States. Blue and red shirts, chants in multiple languages, and a sellout crowd lent the match an atmosphere worthy of Europe's biggest stages.
But just weeks earlier, on sweltering afternoons in Orlando and Cincinnati, the stands were half empty. Fans who had paid hundreds of dollars for early tickets saw prices plummet to $13 just days before kickoff. Outside, supporters worried about visa delays and immigration enforcement stayed away entirely.
The 2025 Club World Cup — expanded to 32 teams for the first time — delivered moments of spectacle and a clear warning: Staging the world's largest sporting event here next summer will require more than world-class stadiums.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea motivates the crowd during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, United States.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea motivates the crowd during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, United States.
Photo by Qian Jun/Pricing Fans Out, Then Back In
The most glaring misstep of the tournament was ticket pricing. Semifinal seats initially ran as high as $473, with premium final seats topping $2,900. As empty rows piled up, FIFA slashed prices dramatically — one Chelsea-Fluminense semifinal ticket fell to $13, less than a stadium beer.
"It was a really good idea, but they totally screwed up how they did it," said Paul Jones, a PSG fan, speaking to Newsweek before the game. "The tickets were way too expensive, so the stadiums were half-empty. If they'd made it cheaper, way more fans would've come."
By the knockout rounds, lower ticket prices and marquee matchups drew big crowds. But the sight of empty seats and frustrated fans in the group stage highlighted poor planning.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino nevertheless called the tournament a success. Before the final, FIFA announced that more than 2.3 million fans from 180 countries had attended.
"It's been a historic milestone," Infantino said, adding that the turnout was "a pleasant surprise" having crossed the two-million attendance mark just 10 days after reaching one million attendees.
Playing in an Oven
Midday kickoffs, timed for European television, left players and fans baking in 100-degree heat in cities like Miami and Charlotte.
Chelsea's Enzo Fernández, who felt dizzy during the semifinal against Fluminense, called the conditions "very dangerous" and urged FIFA to reconsider kickoff times for 2026.
"The heat is incredible... the speed of the game isn't the same," he said after collapsing on the pitch in Philadelphia.
Renan Lodi #6 of Al Hilal sprays water on his face during a hydration break during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and Al Hilal at Audi...
Renan Lodi #6 of Al Hilal sprays water on his face during a hydration break during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and Al Hilal at Audi Field on June 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. More
Photo byFIFA added cooling breaks, water stations, and shaded zones, but Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said morning training was "almost impossible," and Argentina's Sergio Goycoechea, who played in the 1994 World Cup, told Newsweek: "It's exhausting. The heat drains you, and the spectacle suffers too."
Adding to the weather challenges, lightning storms in several host cities forced evacuations and delayed at least three matches. Under FIFA's protocol, play was halted when strikes were detected within eight miles and could only resume 30 minutes after the last observed lightning.
Immigration concerns
Perhaps the most politically charged lesson came from immigration and visa access. An executive order from President Trump bars fans from 12 countries, including Iran and Haiti — two nations with national teams vying for World Cup berths. Players and staff are exempt, but the fans who fuel their teams' journeys would be blocked.
In 2018, then–Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had promised visas would be issued "without regard to race, skin color, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion." Now, visa backlogs have grown so severe that Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned: "If you haven't applied already, you probably won't get here."
Some supporters canceled trips or watch parties out of fear of immigration raids, after U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted — then deleted — a message saying agents were "suited and booted" for security.
Vice President J.D. Vance summed up the mixed messaging last month: "Of course everyone is welcome to come and see this wonderful event. But when the time is up, we want them to go home — otherwise they will have to talk to Secretary Noem," he said, referring to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
"Historic milestone"
Despite missteps with ticket pricing, scheduling, and immigration policy, the Club World Cup also showcased what the United States does well — and what FIFA hopes to build on in 2026. Broadcast production was widely praised for its professionalism and scale, transportation to stadiums was smooth for most fans, and there were no major violent incidents inside the crowds or outside the venues.
And it also made a lot of money.
"We heard, as well, that financially it would not work, it would be a flop, 'Nobody's interested.' Well, I can say that we generated over (USD) 2 billion — almost (USD) 2.1 billion — in revenue. With this competition, for 63 matches, that makes an average of USD 33 million per match," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said at a press conference this week.
U.S. President Donald Trump (C) and first lady Melania Trump join FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other guests while watching the final match of the FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium on July 13,...
U.S. President Donald Trump (C) and first lady Melania Trump join FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other guests while watching the final match of the FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This is the first time in the history of the FIFA CWC that the United States has hosted the competition, one year before the U.S., Mexico and Canada are scheduled to host the World Cup in 2026. More
Photo by"There is no other club competition in the world today that comes anywhere close to a value of USD 33 million per match. So, it is already the most successful club competition in the world, by all measurements."
Fan culture shone brightest in the knockout rounds. South American supporters — particularly fans of Boca Juniors, Fluminense, and Flamengo — transformed sections of NFL stadiums into cauldrons of flags, drums, and chants, creating an atmosphere usually reserved for Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro.
"The crowd was hostile in the best possible way," Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said after facing Boca in Miami.
Even some of the unexpected results added to the drama. Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal stunned Manchester City in a last-16 upset, while Brazilian clubs exceeded expectations — sending four teams into the quarterfinals.
"The (Club) World Cup is showing us the high level of competition in other leagues," Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso told reporters. "Maybe we Europeans are not so familiar with it."
Infantino, who opened a U.S. office in Trump Tower and appeared alongside Trump at rallies, remained upbeat: "America will welcome the world. Everyone who wants to come here to enjoy, to have fun, and to celebrate the game will be able to do that," he said in March. Infantino later called the Club World Cup a "historic milestone" and cited more than 2.3 million fans from 180 countries attending as proof of its success.