Although CONMEBOL president Domínguez declared at the end of 2023 that the 2024 Copa América in the United States would be “the best ever”, reality has cast a shadow over this promise. Data reveals a disappointing truth: about a quarter of the seats at this year’s Copa América went unfilled, with attendance figures falling well short of expectations.
According to the newspaper “AS,” over 327,000 tickets remained unsold during the Copa América group stage, accounting for 25% of total seats. Moving into the knockout stages, over 65,000 seats were also empty during the quarter-finals, representing 23% of the available tickets for this stage. This phenomenon not only hits the tournament’s commercial value but also affects the atmosphere. Empty stands undoubtedly dampen the excitement of the games for both participating teams and fans.
In contrast, the 2024 European Championship in Germany, which took place at the same time, boasted impressive attendance figures. Despite having a larger number of group stage matches at 36, the number of unsold tickets was only 51,000, a mere 2.7% of the total number of tickets. This significant disparity highlights the challenges faced by the Copa América in attracting viewers.
The United States, a non-traditional football powerhouse, has basketball, baseball, and American football dominating its sporting landscape, creating an obstacle in generating public interest in football. Additionally, the geographical limitations make it difficult for fans from South America to overcome the long distances and high travel costs to attend the tournament. In contrast, Germany, as the geographical center of Europe, makes it easier for fans across Europe to travel to watch the European Championship.
The United States, Mexico, and Canada are the host nations of the 2026 World Cup. The low attendance at the Copa América has sparked concerns about whether the US can successfully host the World Cup. Despite Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami CF, injecting new energy into US football, overcoming challenges remains crucial to realizing America’s goal of becoming a global football force. The low audience engagement at this Copa América is one such challenge that needs to be addressed.
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