Fans attending the Club World Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Sunday have described conditions as 'dangerous' and 'horrific'. Attendees struggled to access water amid temperatures of at least 31°C, with long queues for water and tightly packed crowds reported.
John Celmins, a Santa Barbara resident, said there were no water stands, only beer-only stands, and long lines at every vendor and drinking fountain. He noted that the Rose Bowl typically allows sealed water bottles, but this was not permitted for the match, with Fifa's directives taking precedence. The stadium's website states unopened or empty disposable bottles are allowed, but rules can vary by event.
Bryan González of Oakland described misting stations being constantly crowded, with people filling cups and throwing water over each other. Another fan, Khusan Madimov, called attending the match the 'worst mistake' of their life, while Val Wright described the experience as 'dangerous', noting that even the fire department struggled to reach sunstroke victims due to gridlock.
The Rose Bowl, opened in 1922, routinely hosts large events but attendees said this match was significantly worse than usual. The stadium has no covered seating, and much of the concourse is on blacktop. Celmins said he was now less likely to attend the 2026 World Cup after this experience. Fifa and the Rose Bowl had not responded to requests for comment at the time of writing.
