Despite FIFA's lofty ambitions, the Club World Cup has so far played out in front of half-empty stadiums, the result of steep ticket prices, poor promotion and a misread of the U.S. market.

Chelsea's opening match against Los Angeles FC, played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, was more than three-quarters empty with just 22,000 fans inside the 75,000-capacity venue.

FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup in the US faces embarrassment as empty stadiums, low turnout, and slashed ticket prices raise serious doubts ahead of the 2026 World Cup.