Concerns Over Empty Seats at Copa América: What Does This Mean for the World Cup in North America?

The 2024 Copa América is currently underway, now in the knockout stages, but the tournament has faced widespread attention due to its low attendance rates. This is especially worrying, as the United States, Mexico, and Canada are set to co-host the highly anticipated World Cup just two years later, and the current Copa América situation suggests potential problems.

While games featuring top teams like Argentina and Brazil have drawn packed crowds, empty seats have been a noticeable feature in several of the less-popular matches. Of particular concern is the performance of the US national team, one of the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, which has not entirely filled stadiums during the group stage.

The US’s first match against Bolivia took place at AT&T Stadium, with a capacity of 80,000. However, the actual attendance was only around 48,000. In their following game against Greenland, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which can hold 71,000, saw only 59,145 spectators. Even more striking was the US’s defeat against Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium, where the sight of a large number of empty seats was particularly noticeable.

This stands in stark contrast to the current European Championship taking place in Germany, where virtually every game has been sold out, showcasing a very different level of passion and engagement. The European Championship group stage average attendance has been around 50,000 per game, a figure that Copa América’s low attendance numbers cannot compete with.

However, the Copa América’s low attendance cannot solely be attributed to a lack of fan interest. According to CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, over one million tickets were sold by the end of the group stage, highlighting the tournament’s wide appeal.

Analyzing the reasons behind the Copa América’s low attendance, several key factors come into play. Firstly, the choice of holding games in large NFL stadiums rather than specialized football grounds may have affected the atmosphere and fan experience. For example, the match between Venezuela and Ecuador took place at Levi’s Stadium in California, which has a capacity of 68,500, but only 29,864 fans actually showed up. Secondly, hot weather conditions, like the incident in Kansas City where an assistant referee fainted due to heat, and high ticket prices could also have discouraged fans from attending.

In comparison, the ticket prices for the European Championship are much more affordable. Fans looking to watch the quarterfinal clash between Spain and Germany (two former World Cup winners) only had to pay a minimum of 60 euros (about $65) to gain entry, which was managed by UEFA, the governing body for European football. In the Copa América, fans hoping to watch the quarterfinal between Venezuela and Canada would have to pay a minimum of $110 on platforms to secure the cheapest seats.

Furthermore, geographical factors cannot be overlooked. Unlike the European Championship, where all venues are conveniently located within Europe, Copa América fans often have to pay high airfare costs to follow their supported teams.

Despite these challenges, CONMEBOL remains optimistic, predicting ticket sales to reach 1.5 million by the tournament’s end, which would be on par with the 2016 Copa América Centenario, which was also held in the United States. This data indicates that despite some attendance issues, the Copa América still boasts a large audience base and market potential.

It can be said that the Copa América’s low attendance issue encompasses multiple layers, including venue selection, weather conditions, ticket pricing, and geographical factors. Addressing these issues would not only enhance the Copa América viewing experience but also provide valuable lessons and insights for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.