Did it help? Revealed: the amount FIFA spent on Club World Cup promotion in the USA

Football news 17 june 2025, 04:10
Liam Garcia Liam Garcia Dailysports's expert
Did it help? Revealed: the amount FIFA spent on Club World Cup promotion in the USA Getty Images

The Club World Cup continues to stir up controversy, and the selection of stadiums is one of the main issues. So far, the tournament has struggled to attract fans, with vast arenas remaining nearly empty. As it turns out, even the hefty sums FIFA invested in the event haven’t managed to draw in the crowds.

According to The Athletic, football’s global governing body spent over $50 million on marketing for the Club World Cup—far surpassing the initial budget.

The bulk of the expenses went towards social media—enlisting influencers from baseball, culinary, and invention spheres to explain football to the American audience—as well as billboards on highways in major cities.

So far, these efforts haven’t significantly boosted attendance. Only the Inter Miami vs. Al-Ahli and PSG vs. Atletico matches managed to somewhat fill the large stadiums. The Palmeiras vs. Porto game drew just over half the seats at MetLife Stadium, while the Atlanta venue for Chelsea vs. Los Angeles saw only 22,000 fans in a stadium built for 71,000.

Interestingly, FIFA’s American office advocated for choosing smaller arenas to ensure fuller stands, but the European office and Gianni Infantino himself insisted on larger stadiums for a sense of “grandeur.”

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