Numbers confirm Real Madrid reign as most popular team at Club World Cup | OneFootball

The ongoing FIFA Club World Cup has not been the exciting tournament many expected. Harsh weather, tough travel schedules, and tiring match plans have all made it difficult for players to perform at their best.

But the problems do not stop there. Fans have not been filling the stadiums either. The first round of the tournament recorded an average attendance of just 34,770 per match, which means only 57% of the seats were occupied across the 12 North American stadiums used so far.

The total attendance for all the group stage matches combined has reached 1,668,959.

According to Sports Business Journal (h/t MARCA), FIFA believes the numbers will rise once the knockout rounds begin, as more fans could turn up for the bigger, more decisive games.

However, the intense heat many cities are facing could still keep people away. Some matches have been played in scorching temperatures, which is tough for both players on the pitch and fans in the stands.

Real Madrid lead attendance record

Fans are loving Real Madrid. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Among the 32 teams taking part, Real Madrid have been the biggest draw by far. Their three group-stage matches nearly sold out, pulling in an average of 65,825 fans per game.

Matches in Miami, Charlotte, and Philadelphia saw crowds of 62,415, 70,248, and 64,811, respectively, with occupancy rates above 93% in each case.

After Real Madrid, the team bringing in the most fans is PSG, averaging 61,649 spectators, followed by Atletico de Madrid (51,749), Inter Miami (51,208), and Palmeiras (47,456).

The most-watched match so far was the PSG-Atletico de Madrid showdown at the Rose Bowl, which attracted 80,619 spectators, filling almost 90% of the stadium.

These numbers show that while overall attendance has been lower than expected, certain matches featuring star-studded teams are still drawing large crowds.