S. American Sides Feel the Love

Their devoted fans pack stadiums but some Club World Cup games fall flat

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MIAMI - Partying South American fans may have set the Club World Cup alight, but unfortunately for hosts the United States, that carnival-like atmosphere has not swept across the country as some matches are being contested in front of modest crowds.

Global governing body FIFA had hoped the expanded version of the tournament, featuring many of the world's top clubs, would build enthusiasm for football in a country historically ambivalent to the beautiful game, as the US prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.

With some 1.5 million tickets sold only days into the tournament, a chasm remains between the "haves" and the "have-nots" of the host cities.

In just two games, Argentinian giants Boca Juniors have taken Miami's Hard Rock Stadium by storm, turning it into their own "Bombonera" outpost, filling it with a passion unmatched at this Club World Cup.

The Boca fans made up the majority of the 55,574 spectators for their 2-2 draw with Benfica on June 16, and it was a similar story among the 63,587 supporters present for the 2-1 defeat by Bayern Munich on June 20.