Fans-tastic: FIFA relief at huge crowds
With Messi mania and vibrant South American supporters in Miami, the Club World Cup is living up to the hype
The expanded Club World Cup has kicked off with healthy crowds, "Messi mania" and a festival atmosphere in Miami, giving an early vindication to world soccer body FIFA after fears of empty stands and global disinterest.
FIFA controversially awarded Lionel Messi's Inter Miami a back-door route into the tournament, ensuring the sport's biggest name would be there after he helped propel soccer to new heights in a country often ambivalent to the world's most popular game.
Some 61,000 fans packed the Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday to watch the Argentine and his teammates battle out a goalless, but nonetheless thrilling draw with Egyptian giant Al Ahly.
There was another strong turnout on Sunday for the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid, which ended in a one-sided 4-0 win for the Champions League winner.
However, Bayern Munich's 10-0 demolition of semi-professional Auckland City underscored the worrying gulf in quality between some of the competing clubs.
But, the opening weekend largely delivered what FIFA had been hoping for: vibrant crowds and global representation.
