FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at the Rose Bowl (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
Summer has kicked off, and so has the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
By Melissa Michelson
Not to be confused with the FIFA World Cup (that’s next year), the Club World Cup is an opportunity for fans to watch some of the world’s best league teams compete on the international stage. While most matches will take place east of the Mississippi (stadium info here), our very own Rose Bowl is one of only two West Coast venues. But before you scramble to witness soccer legends’ fancy footwork, make sure you know what you’re up against.
Admittedly, though born and raised in L.A., I’d never set foot inside the Rose Bowl stadium. That changed this Sunday, when I decided—last minute—to treat myself to a ticket for Madrid (Atletico) vs. Paris. A friend warned me I’d need to buy my ticket online and store it on my phone—no human ticket window in sight.
Once I secured the overpriced ticket (a hefty $180 with fees), I had to figure out parking. Google Maps told me I live exactly 16 minutes away from the Rose Bowl. I figured if I left at 10:30 am, I’d have plenty of time before the noon kickoff.
Boy, was I wrong.
I opted for the nearby satellite Park & Ride at Parsons instead of the super-expensive dirt lots surrounding the stadium. I wasn’t thrilled to pay $30, but was relieved that the 10-minute shuttle ride would be free.
After parking, I joined hundreds of fans in team jerseys from around the world. not necessarily Atletico or PSG, in a long, zigzagging line around the lot. Surprisingly, everyone was polite and, at least outwardly, unfazed, though a bit anxious about getting to the stadium on time.
Shuttles came in batches of four, loading up and leaving together, with another four ready to go. The line moved, but it steadily grew with latecomers. Forty-five minutes later, I finally boarded a standing-room-only shuttle. As we pulled away at 11:50 a.m., I glanced back—the line had tripled in size.
I missed kickoff and the first several minutes of the game, which in soccer, could mean missing everything.
Getting to my seat was its own challenge. Like horses let loose from a corral, shuttle passengers dashed to find their gate. I had to circle the entire stadium before I could even scan my ticket. On the way, a Rose Bowl employee stopped me, saying I’d need to check my purse and pointed toward, of course, another long line. Instead, I emptied it and stuffed everything into my pockets: phone, wallet, lip balm, earbuds, keys. Luckily, I wasn’t carrying food or drinks—just a few of the many verboten items listed on a discreet sign alongside weapons and tripods.
With my phone at 6% battery and internet still strong, I finally scanned my ticket and entered. (A screenshot wasn’t an option, the app doesn’t allow it.)
I made my way to my seat and finally sat down. Within minutes, fans nearby were calling for a medic to help an older woman suffering from heat stroke. They helped her out of the stands. It was in the 90s but felt well into the 100s, with all the concrete, asphalt, 88,000+ fans, and relentless sun.
The stadium was half-empty. Like me, plenty of fans didn’t account for a three-hour arrival process. People continued trickling in, some just in time for halftime. But at $200+ per ticket, most were surprisingly good-humored about it. A couple next to me from Utah said they were staying in Glendale, just 10 minutes away without traffic—but had waited over an hour just to get off the freeway.
At halftime, people sought shade in the tunnels under the stadium or, if lucky, claimed a spot on the retaining wall by the bathrooms under some palm trees.
By the 80th minute of the 95+ minute match, the stadium was finally full. Fans entertained themselves with rounds of the wave while the players on the pitch continued, unfazed. Just before the final whistle, people began filing out—missing a red card ejection of a Spanish player and another Paris goal.
I braced for the return to the Park & Ride—but it was worse than expected. Few signs, no staff, crowds of confused people, and brutal heat created a scene that was both calm and chaotic. Some shuttles were acting as cooling centers, which added to the confusion. People thought they were boarding for transport, but no—just hot, overcrowded buses with weak A/C and no water. Not even lukewarm.
I gave up waiting and started walking. I cut through the dusty lot and joined the crowd making their way through nearby neighborhoods, past vendors hawking cold beer and sausages. Oh, the grilled onions. Thankfully, the route was shaded.
At one point, a guy offered rides, yelling, “AC’s on and we’re ready to go!” I called a friend instead, who picked me up and took me back to the Parsons lot.
Paris won 4-0, but for me, the game was just the sideshow. Next time, I’ll stick to watching FIFA on a big screen, preferably with air conditioning.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
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