The “summer of soccer” in the U.S. with the Concacaf Gold Cup and FIFA Club World Cup was supposed to be a dress rehearsal of the 2026 men’s World Cup, but many are “wondering if this country is an appropriate host for an international event that is supposed to welcome the world,” according to Ann Killion of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Attendance has not been great, “enthusiasm muted and concerns about dangerous heat, poor organization, ICE raids and political pandering have been constant themes” for the tournaments. When Mexico defeated Honduras 1-0 at Levi’s Stadium, the announced attendance was 70,975, plenty of empty seats were visible. Some customers said that their friends had stayed away because of the fear of ICE agents. Killion wrote the threat felt by the immigrant community -- including by folks here legally -- “is a dark shadow over these tournaments and has raised serious concerns about the vibe and ultimate success of next summer’s World Cup.” Some of the most passionate soccer fans in the world are the “ones being treated with hatred and suspicion.” That threat may be “one factor in attendance, which has not been impressive for either tournament” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/2).
UNDERSTAND THE MARKET: THE ATHLETIC’s Oliver Kay writes to the vast American sporting public, the Club World Cup is “proving a much harder sell” than FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared to expect, harder than many of those of “friendly games, exhibition games” Infantino was breezily talking about. Harder “than a lot of matches in MLS, where there is a more clearly established bond between the fans, the teams and the competition they are watching.” There have been some strong attendances, but nothing like as many as Infantino “was suggesting there would be before the tournament.” The five games to date have hosted an average crowd of 38,265, which is “not only barely half the capacity of Mercedes-Benz Stadium but also almost 6,000 below Atlanta United’s average attendance.” Atlanta United’s prices are “significantly lower of course,” but that suggests “they know their market rather better than FIFA do.” Soccer has “become obsessed with globalisation,” but the sport is “still fuelled by what happens at a local level” (THE ATHLETIC, 7/3).
