As the 2024 Copa America progresses into the knockout rounds in the United States, the focus has shifted from on-field action to notably sparse crowds, raising concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which is also set to take place in the U.S. alongside Mexico and Canada. While teams like Argentina and Brazil saw full houses, other matches suffered from low attendance.
Notably, the U.S. team’s matches did not reach capacity crowds, with their opener at the AT&T Stadium attracting less than 60% of its 80,000 capacity. This trend continued in subsequent games, signalling a broader issue of engagement.
The hosting of less prominent matches in large NFL stadiums, rather than more appropriately sized soccer venues, likely contributed to the lack of atmosphere and filled seats. This issue contrasts sharply with the European Championship in Germany, where games consistently played to packed stadiums.
Despite these attendance woes at some Copa America 2024 matches, the U.S. game against Uruguay set television viewership records, indicating that interest in soccer remains high in the country. CONMEBOL has reported strong ticket sales overall, with projections to match the 1.5 million tickets sold during the 2016 Centenario edition in the U.S.
Environmental challenges and high ticket prices have also deterred fans from attending. For instance, sweltering conditions at one venue led to an assistant referee collapsing, and the high cost of tickets compared unfavourably with more affordable options available at the Euros.
As the tournament continues, CONMEBOL remains optimistic about reaching its ticket sales goals. While there are areas of concern, the overall interest in the tournament could still positively reflect on the upcoming World Cup hosting.
