Low attendance for Sundowns-Ulsan highlights inconsistent Club World Cup turnout

The FIFA Club World Cup is underway, and 1 of the main talking points hasn't conscionable been the prime of shot connected show from the apical clubs crossed each continent, but besides the level of involvement shown by fans attending the matches successful the United States. With the tourney taking spot during the American summertime and crossed assorted clip zones, determination were ever questions astir what kinds of crowds each lucifer would draw.

Some games person delivered large numbers. On Sunday, Paris Saint-Germain's 4-0 win implicit Atlético Madrid drew an awesome 80,619 fans to the Rose Bowl successful Pasadena. But that level of turnout hasn't been consistent.

In contrast, the matchup betwixt South Korea's Ulsan HD and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns successful Orlando told a antithetic story. Held astatine Inter&Co Stadium -- location of MLS broadside Orlando City SC with a 25,500-seat capableness -- the lucifer was delayed implicit an hr owed to adverse weather.

When it yet kicked off, conscionable 3,412 fans were successful attendance, making it the lowest assemblage of the tourney truthful far, arsenic the South African broadside went connected to win 1-0.

Attendance figures person varied wide crossed the tournament. The opening 0-0 game betwixt Inter Miami and Egyptian side Al Ahly drew 60,927 spectators to Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami, which seats 64,767, contempt FIFA president Gianni Infantino having called it a "sellout" beforehand.

On Monday, Chelsea's 2-0 win implicit LAFC drew lone 22,137 fans to Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which tin clasp 71,000. The debased turnout mightiness person been attributed to the 3:00 p.m. section kickoff time.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium seconds earlier kick-off. No hiding this is not a large look for the tournament. pic.twitter.com/3bGfkc6MEX

That aforesaid time successful Miami, Boca Juniors' thrilling 2-2 draw with Benfica attracted 55,574 spectators, bolstered by the club's beardown instrumentality basal traveling to Florida.

Boca Juniors fans astatine Hard Rock Stadium for the crippled against Benfica: pic.twitter.com/XnAzEmLBFz

Tuesday afternoon's 0-0 draw betwixt Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund brought successful 34,736 fans astatine MetLife Stadium successful New Jersey. Two days earlier, 46,275 fans showed up to the aforesaid venue for Palmeiras' lucifer against Porto, a lucifer that besides ended successful a goalless draw.

With clubs similar Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Juventus inactive acceptable to play successful the radical stage, attendance figures are expected to rise. But for now, the opposition betwixt blockbuster matchups and lower-profile fixtures similar Sundowns vs Ulsan HD underscores the disparity successful instrumentality involvement crossed this expanded Club World Cup.