A surreal scene unfolded at the Club World Cup as Ulsan Hyundai vs. Mamelodi Sundowns was played in front of only 97 spectators—and then in an empty stadium due to a tornado warning.
Tornado alert and empty seats
While over 80,000 fans packed the stands for PSG’s opener, other matches paint a very different picture. Ulsan Hyundai vs. Mamelodi Sundowns was scheduled in a 25,000-seat venue—yet only 97 spectators showed up. Things got worse when a tornado alert forced the evacuation of the stadium mid-game, leaving players to compete in eerie silence.
Les 97 spectateurs (!) doivent évacuer le stade en raison de l'approche d'une tornade lors du match entre Ulsan Hyundai 🇰🇷 et Mamelodi Sundowns 🇿🇦 lors de la Coupe du monde des clubs le 18 juin 2025 pic.twitter.com/1NpX32NAeA
— UN TRUC DE FOOT (@untrucdefoot) June 18, 2025
No atmosphere, little impact
Despite the ghostly setting, the South Africans clinched a 1-0 win with a composed second-half performance. Ulsan, wasteful during their dominant spells, left with regrets. But in truth, the result mattered less than the bigger issue: an elite FIFA tournament struggling to engage fans on a global stage.
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