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New York Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Have Club World Cup attendances really been that bad?
The group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has concluded and 48 of the tournament's 63 matches have now taken place. The competition, which is being hosted in the United States, drew plenty of criticism in the build-up — including for how many games were being held in large, out-of-town stadiums in cities traditionally lacking in football (or soccer) fandom. Advertisement So what have attendances actually been like? How many stadiums have come close to filling all of their seats? How have crowd sizes compared to the American-hosted 1994 men's World Cup and previous Club World Cups? And which have been the most and least-watched teams and groups at the tournament? Here, The Athletic dives into the numbers and lays out the facts surrounding the attendances so far. Firstly, this is what the attendance has been at each game so far at the tournament. The figures are FIFA's (the below table is sortable). FIFA has confirmed the attendance for both Mamelodi Sundowns vs Fluminense and Urawa Red Diamonds vs Monterrey (both played on June 25) was, by coincidence, exactly 14,312. The 80,619 fans who watched Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain thrash Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California is the highest attendance of the tournament so far. This match is, for now, the best-attended game in Club World Cup history. The previous highest reported attendances were the 73,000 who watched Manchester United vs Vasco da Gama (group stage) and Corinthians vs Vasco da Gama (final) at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro in the inaugural version of the competition in 2000. The lowest attendance is the 3,412 present for South Korean side Ulsan HD's clash with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida on June 17, which was also delayed for 65 minutes given fears of thunderstorms. The nearby Walt Disney World averages that many visitors roughly every 30 minutes. The last men's World Cup game to have a lower attendance was Wales vs Hungary in a group-stage play-off in Sweden in 1958 (2,823) and the last Premier League match (excluding games during the coronavirus pandemic) to attract a smaller crowd was Wimbledon vs Everton at Selhurst Park in January 1993, with just 3,039 people at the ground. Advertisement It is not, however, the lowest-attended Club World Cup match ever (excluding games held during the pandemic). That distinction is held by the second-round match between Mexican club Leon and Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds at the 2023 tournament in Saudi Arabia. Just 2,525 people (in a 27,000-capacity ground) watched Urawa win 1-0. The average attendance at the 2025 Club World Cup has been 34,759. The average across the previous 18 — much smaller — editions that were not affected by the pandemic was 32,505. While, at face value, this suggests attendances have been better than usual for the tournament, larger stadiums have been used for this edition, which must be taken into account. Here is the average attendance for each day of the tournament. The highest figure, on June 14, was set on the first day of the competition, when the only game was between Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Egyptian side Al Ahly at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The lowest was on June 25, when the final games in Groups E and F took place. Three of the four matches were attended by fewer than 15,000 people and just 14,312 people watched Monterrey's victory over Urawa Red Diamonds at the Rose Bowl. That meant more than 75,000 seats — a figure higher than Old Trafford's total capacity — were left empty at the stadium that hosted the 1994 World Cup final. Looking at the 12 stadiums being used for the tournament, the Hard Rock Stadium tops the list for percentage of seats filled. The ground in south Florida has been, on average, 81.8 per cent full during its six games hosted so far. Notably, two of these matches have involved Messi. The lowest is the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, which has only been 19.9 per cent full. The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — which will host both the final of this tournament and next summer's World Cup, which the U.S. is jointly hosting with Canada and Mexico — has the third-lowest percentage of seats filled so far, with just under 45. The club to have played in front of the most fans so far at the tournament are record 15-time European champions Real Madrid with a total of 197,474, averaging 65,825 over their three games. And the side to have been the least-watched are Mamelodi Sundowns, who totalled 31,730 at an average of 10,577 per game. Advertisement The group with the highest total attendance was Group B (PSG, Botafogo, Atletico and Seattle Sounders) with 289,725 at an average of 48,288 per match and the one with the lowest total attendance was Group F (Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense, Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD) with 104,026, averaging 17,338. So, how does the group stage at the 2025 Club World Cup, with an average attendance of 34,759, compare to the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.? Well, that tournament 31 years ago averaged 67,526 for group-stage attendance — not far off double what we have seen this summer. As for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, that averaged 51,188 in the groups and the average attendance across the 380 Premier League games in 2024-25 was 40,423. But a word of caution when comparing different competitions across different eras: this is the first edition of the rebranded Club World Cup and it is far less popular than the World Cup and the Premier League, so the lower attendance figures are to be expected. So while crowd sizes have not been — on the whole — disastrous so far, FIFA will hope they increase during the knockout stage. And, at next year's World Cup, the sport's governing body will be desperate to avoid the scenes we have seen at several games this summer, with well over 50,000 empty seats in some stadiums. Even so, the added prestige and global interest in the World Cup will inevitably mean higher attendances in the group stage of that tournament — although ticket prices and difficulty in reaching some out-of-town stadiums could pose a challenge.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Lyon thought they were too big to fail. Now they face a season in Ligue 2
Just five days ago, John Textor bounded down the corridors of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. 'Victoire, victoire,' he cried as his side, Botafogo, stunned PSG in the Club World Cup. French football's financial watchdog, the DNCG, brought him back down to earth on Tuesday as it confirmed Lyon's relegation to Ligue 2. 'Everything is good financially,' said Textor prior to the DNCG meeting. This is not the first time that the Lyon owner has gone into one of these meetings with a sense of confidence swiftly eroded by the commission's verdict. It was the same back in 2023 and in November last year. On the former occasion, the club were issued a transfer ban, forcing them to sell off key assets such as Bradley Barcola and Castello Lukeba, without being able to replace them. Textor was indignant, even confused. 'Welcome to football in France,' concluded the American in a lengthy communique lambasting the authorities' decision and their inability to 'understand' Eagle Football's multi-club model; a recurring theme in this ongoing drama. Textor was generous in his serving of blame. There was a bit for everyone, including former owner and president Jean-Michel Aulas. 'He hid bad news. I could have found a solution if I was aware. If I knew that we would have had these restrictions in the first transfer window, I would have asked to stop the transaction and restructure rather than giving half a billion dollars in cash to the sellers,' said Textor. Aulas hit back, even threatening a court case. 'I was never troubled by the DNCG. I never had any problem with them in 35 years as president,' he retorted. The Frenchman, almost as big as the institution of Lyon itself given their success under his tenure, has publicly stated that he did not wish to sell to Textor. He preferred another candidate but a deal could not be reached. Upon his arrival, Textor inherited a club in debt. Lyon had fallen out of the Champions League but their significant wage bill did not reflect their new standing, even less so when academy products Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso returned on 'free' transfers but with considerable salaries in 2022. But Textor has done little to correct Lyon's course. Assets have been stripped: OL Féminin, OL Reign and the LDLC Arena, which houses Lyon's basketball team, were all sold. There are fears that Lyon's academy, the lifeblood of the club's identity, could be next. 'If that happens, OL will lose a lot. It is the club's DNA,' warned Maxence Caqueret, a recent graduate who is now playing for Como. Yet those sacrifices have not sufficed in convincing the DNCG of the club's financial stability. The club's recent transfer dealings play a part. Almost €150m was spent last summer in a bid to return to the Champions League. The most eye-raising investment was in Moussa Niakhaté, who was signed from Nottingham Forest for €32m despite not being a guaranteed starter at the time. Orel Mangala also arrived for more than €20m and that opaque Nottingham Forest connection could have been extended by the arrivals of Danilo and Matt Turner this summer. The pair, who played just 17 games between them last season, were touted to arrive in a deal worth around €30m. Lessons are not being learned. In November, Lyon once again met with the DNCG. 'The meeting went well, I'm confident in our numbers,' said Textor, who felt he had got to grips with the particularities of French football administration. Yet once again, Lyon were stung, this time not merely with a transfer ban but with a provisional relegation to Ligue 2. In the months since, on-pitch success has been seen as the remedy for the club's off-field ills. 'The club's future has been uncertain since the start of the season; that is why, since the beginning, we set ourselves the target of qualifying for the Champions League,' said Niakhaté after a defeat to Monaco in May that put paid to those ambitions. They instead had to settle for the Europa League, again. Textor went for broke to achieve Champions League football – investing in playing staff and then in Paulo Fonseca after deciding that Pierre Sage could not lead them to the promised land. But those bets did not come in, the Champions League revenue would not usher through the club's coffers, and the deficit would not be plugged. Despite that, Textor arrived with confidence. The sale of his shares in Crystal Palace had given a boost, as had the sale of Rayan Cherki to Manchester City for a fee in excess of €40m. But the DNCG would not accept 'hypotheticals' and promises of future sales, nor could the club factor in any TV revenue, with Ligue 1 currently without a broadcaster for next season. That applied to all clubs. Initially blocked at the entrance to the DNCG's offices, Textor was finally let in and he left – once again – sounding confident. 'We feel very comfortable with the DNCG's processes. We enjoyed the hearing. Our liquidity situation has improved remarkably, but I've learned enough about the processes in France that I would never presume anything coming out of the hearing,' said Textor. He was right not to presume. The verdict fell and an earthquake was felt throughout French football as seven-time champions Lyon were relegated to Ligue 2. 'It is a terrible blow,' said Aulas. 'Sadness dominates and an immense inability to understand.' The club's main ultras group, the Bad Gones, have called on the owner to leave, with 'Textor out' banners appearing across the city. 'John has never been and never will be the man for the situation. The Botafogo supporter should now leave the Lyon landscape,' read a statement from the group. Much of the blame has fallen on Textor's shoulders and, while the financial crisis gripping French football can be used as a mitigating factor, it is worth noting that Lyon are the only Ligue 1 side to suffer this fate. Lyon branded the decision 'incomprehensible' and announced that they will appeal. French football's lower echelons are littered with clubs perceived as too big to fall - Bordeaux and Sochaux, both down in the National divisions are two of the most recent examples. Lyon's error was believing that such a fate would not – could not – befall them. 'I am one of those that wants to fight PSG but it is very difficult – you have to go step by step,' said Textor last week. Those first steps, if Lyon's appeal proves unsuccessful, will be taken in Ligue 2, by beating the likes of Nancy, Pau and Rodez next season. Ignorance, hubris and exceptionalism have driven a once great club to the precipice of the abyss. This is an article by Get French Football News
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Suspect in fatal shooting of 13-year-old in California may be in Massachusetts, police say
Police in Pasadena, California believe a suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy in 2021 may be in Massachusetts. According to police, 13-year-old Iran Moreno was playing video games in his bedroom on Nov. 20, 2021, when a stray bullet from a shooting outside pierced through the wall and killed him. The gunman was seen on surveillance video getting out of a gray 2017-2020 Ford Fusion and firing his gun twice. Using newly enhanced surveillance video, the Pasadena Police Department said they found the car's partial license plate number was QJ117. Police also released sketches of the gunman and his possible getaway driver. After the sketches were released, police said they received a tip Thursday morning from a woman who said she had seen the man on several occasions in March and April in the Swampscott and Boston area. Police called the tip credible. Sketch of a suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old in Pasadena, California. Pasadena Police Department The gunman is described as a Black male with a medium complexion between the ages of 33 and 37. Police said he is either 6 feet or 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing between 185 and 195 pounds. At the time of the shooting, he was wearing a red and black North Face hoodie. A stock image of the sweatshirt possibly worn by a gunman in a deadly 2021 shooting that killed a 13-year-old in Pasadena, California. Pasadena PD. Anyone with information about the gunman is asked to call the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Located in Los Angeles County, Pasadena is about 10 miles from Los Angeles. Pasadena has a population of about 133,000 people.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Monterrey beats Urawa at the Rose Bowl and gets some help to advance in Club World Cup
Urawa Red Diamonds' Shusaku Nishikawa fails to block a goal by Monterrey's Germán Berterame during the Club World Cup Group E soccer match at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press) Mexico's Monterrey advanced to the round of 16 at the Club World Cup by thrashing Urawa Red Diamonds 4-0 on Wednesday at the Rose Bowl in the third and final match of the group stage, while Argentina's River Plate was eliminated with a 2-0 loss to Inter Milan in Seattle. As the third-place team in Group E, the Rayados needed to win, scoring as many goals as possible, and then hope for a winner at Lumen Field during the match between River Plate and Inter Milan, because if the match was tied 2-2, Monterrey would be eliminated no matter what happened in Pasadena. Advertisement But Inter Milan's win gave the club first place in the group with seven points, followed by Monterrey with five and River Plate with four points. Urawa did not earn any group points. Read more: FIFA Club World Cup casting some doubts over European soccer dominance 'We have to enjoy now, the present,' said Domenec Torrent, Monterrey's technical director. 'I'm very happy for the people who came here and for Mexican soccer in general.' Torrent added that he was happy to finish unbeaten during three group stage matches, earning one win and two draws. "We knew it was going to be a complex match. Urawa, despite being eliminated, we knew they were going to play a difficult game," Monterrey midfielder Óliver Torres said. "In fact, in the first few minutes they made it very difficult for us. After the goal, we started to grow in the match. We knew it was a very important day for all the club's workers, for all the fans who were here and at home, and well, for all of Mexico." Advertisement Monterrey settled the match in a matter of nine minutes. Monterrey's Germán Berterame, front, and Sergio Ramos embrace after winning their Club World Cup Group E match against Urawa on Wednesday at the Rose Bowl. (Jae Hong / Associated Press) Colombian Nelson Deossa fired a powerful shot from outside the box at Urawa goalkeeper Shūsaku Nishikawa, who could not block the shot as the ball rolled in for a goal in the 30th minute. Two minutes later, Argentine Germán Berterame fired a low shot on the right side of the Japanese goal and scored. Then, Jesús "Tecatito" Corona fired a long-range missile, extending Monterrey's lead to 3-0. The fourth goal came in stoppage time when Berterame finished off a diagonal cross from the right. 'I didn't expect what tonight was like,' said Berterame of his brace, the win and the qualification. 'We were coming to win, but I think it was a dream night.' Advertisement Monterrey will face Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta while Inter Milan will face Fluminense on Monday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., in the round of 16 of the tournament. Monterrey fans cheer for their team during a Club World Cup Group E soccer match against Urawa Red Diamonds at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday. (Jae Hong / Associated Press) "The next game we know is very difficult," said Torrent, who added Dortmund plays a style very similar to Inter Milan. "It's another European team that competes very well, they have won things. We already know how they play, I've seen them very well." 'Every game is like a chess match. Getting through the group was not easy. It's going to be very difficult for them to beat us and if they beat us, let the fans know that we're going to give everything." Advertisement Sergio Ramos' Monterrey and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami are the only two CONCACAF teams to survive the first round, as Pachuca, Seattle and LAFC were eliminated during the group stage. This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Climate
- Forbes
How To Face Hurricane Season And Other Disasters With No FEMA
Fire-affected residents meet with FEMA officials on January 14, 2025 in Pasadena, California, where ... More a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened today to help homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profits with their economic recovery. Hot, powerful winds on January 14 threatened to rekindle and whip up major fires that have devastated the hills and suburbs of Los Angeles, killing at last 24 people and changing the face of America's second biggest city forever. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) With FEMA defunded and state programs slashed, individuals and communities must reassess how to prepare for hurricane season and recover in its aftermath. Local strategies, mutual aid, and policy reforms are more important than ever. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season arrives amid unprecedented shifts in federal disaster management. FEMA, the country's primary emergency response agency, has undergone significant cuts, with several programs suspended or eliminated outright. For communities already on the front lines of climate change, these changes raise urgent questions. Who responds when FEMA doesn't? And how should people prepare now? How We Got To Hurricane Season With No FEMA This year, the federal government moved to eliminate or curtail many FEMA grant programs that had long supported community preparedness and disaster recovery. The agency's April press release described the shift as a return to its 'core mission' by ending 'wasteful, politicized grant programs' and prioritizing streamlined disaster response. But critics see it differently. The Union of Concerned Scientists warned that 'eliminating FEMA will endanger millions,' especially in states with high exposure to climate risks. According to their analysis, the changes appear to be part of a broader effort to politicize disaster aid, disproportionately affecting marginalized and vulnerable populations. As hurricane season intensifies, individuals and communities are left wondering what support will remain if federal resources disappear or never arrive at all. Hurricane Season With No FEMA - What Preparedness Looks Like Now Preparedness is not just a federal government function. It can happen at any level and be done by anyone. Here are five practical steps for storm season preparedness, from securing temporary housing to documenting damage for insurance. But when FEMA is no longer a guaranteed safety net, preparation becomes even more local and personal. Here are a few updated approaches: As pointed out in an earlier article, 'Hurricane preparedness is no longer just about stocking up—it's about strategizing for longer-term instability.' A woman buys provisions and non-perishable foods at a supermarket in preparation for the arrival of ... More a hurricane. (Photo by Elizabeth RUIZ / AFP) (Photo by ELIZABETH RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images) What This Means for States, Cities, And Communities States now face more pressure to fill the gaps. However, many disaster-prone states already struggle with limited emergency management capacity. A bipartisan proposal introduced in Congress aims to re-establish FEMA's foundational mission and restore the Disaster Relief Fund. But for now, the bill's prospects remain uncertain. In the meantime, cities are stepping up. Some are investing in localized emergency alert systems and weatherizing community infrastructure. Others are formalizing relationships with nonprofits and businesses to coordinate emergency response more efficiently. Still, without federal coordination, disparities will likely deepen. 'States most vulnerable to extreme weather—especially across the Gulf South—now face this crisis with less federal support than in decades,' noted a recent AP report. What You Can Still Count On As We Start Hurricane Season With No FEMA Federal emergency declarations may still activate a limited FEMA response, particularly for large-scale catastrophes. But smaller disasters, or those affecting rural and underserved communities, may fall below the threshold for aid. It's essential to: ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 04: A member of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force ... More searches a flood-damaged property with a search canine in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene along the Swannanoa River on October 4, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. At least 215 people were killed in six states in the wake of the powerful hurricane which made landfall as a Category 4. President Joe Biden ordered the deployment of 1,000 active duty U.S. soldiers to assist with storm relief efforts in what is now the deadliest U.S. mainland hurricane since Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by) Why These Changes Matter The shift in FEMA's structure reflects a broader change in how the federal government approaches disaster risk and social protection. Many of the grants now eliminated had supported long-term community resilience, particularly for Indigenous communities, low-income neighborhoods, and climate-exposed regions. Without those programs, rebuilding is more difficult. But preparation still matters. As one Louisiana resident said after Hurricane Helene, 'We don't wait on FEMA anymore. We check on each other first.' That sentiment captures both the challenge and the opportunity. In the face of more frequent storms and less federal relief, our greatest resource may be each other.
