When FIFA announced the new Club World Cup format with 32 teams, the promise was clear: a global, competitive, and spectacular tournament.
However, the reality is far from the slogan. The first phase left an image that hurts in Zürich: half-empty stands, absolute disinterest, and a line-up that doesn't even convince the local fans.
Rarely has there been such an oversized tournament with so little response and out of time. Except for a few specific matches, the average attendance is about half the capacity in most stadiums. The cameras try to focus on crowded areas, but aerial photos or side shots show the truth: thousands of empty seats.
Even Mbappé felt embarrassed, posting a picture of himself that he had to edit with fake fans to give the appearance of interest.
Three major absentees
Beyond the cold atmosphere in the stands, the tournament has been questioned due to the absence of the true giants of European soccer.
The current champion of England (Liverpool) isn't there, nor is the champion of Spain (FC Barcelona), nor the champion of Italy (Napoli). A Club World Cup without the three best teams on the continent sounds like a contradiction.
For many analysts and fans, the absence of these clubs has stripped the tournament of all legitimacy. The image gets worse when Chelsea, fourth in the Premier League and 9.3 mi. (15 km) behind champion Liverpool (which wasn't even invited), already has a guaranteed spot in the final.
The merit? Having won a Champions League... in 2021. So, a team that hasn't even been a protagonist in its league now has the chance to be crowned world champion. It's nonsense that erodes the tournament's credibility.
Interest below zero
FIFA sold the new Club World Cup as the future of global soccer. But the facts have spoken.
The lack of fans in the stadiums is the clearest indicator of its initial failure. Tickets aren't flying, stadiums aren't roaring, and audiences aren't showing up either.
Neither marketing nor television rights. Not even the names of certain clubs. It hasn't been enough to hook a fan base that simply isn't buying this format.
A tournament that doesn't convince
When the best aren't there, when sporting merit doesn't count, and when stadiums are empty, soccer loses its essence. The Club World Cup, as it's currently designed, seems more like a boardroom idea than a tournament the world desired.
FIFA has work to do. Not just with the tickets.