FIFA forced into last minute change ahead of Club World Cup amid major embarrassment fears

FIFA have made a last minute change ahead of the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup kicking off in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The revamped tournament, featuring 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, five from North and Central America, four from Asia and Africa and one from Oceania, gets underway in the United States with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Al Ahly of Egypt at the Hard Rock Stadium.

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Porto, Juventus, Flamengo, River Plate and Boca Juniors are among the big guns participating but the buzz surrounding the first tournament of its kind has been underwhelming to say the least.

Despite Messi's participation, tickets for the opening clash at Miami Dolphins' 65,326 capacity NFL Stadium do not appear to have sold well and students at Miami Dade College were able to purchase five tickets for a dirt-cheap $20 - a huge reduction from the $349 required for the cheapest tickets when they went on sale in December.

What have FIFA done for Club World Cup tournament?

And according to Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail, FIFA have decided to move fans into different seats so it appears more full on the television broadcast.

The buzz for the FIFA Club World Cup has been underwhelming. Image: Getty

The tournament is being broadcasted on DAZN, who penned a $1 billion deal for the rights.

The newspaper says some fans have had their seats changed, with FIFA stressing that it is a common practice at events and no supporters will end up in seats cheaper than what they paid for.

Tickets for a last 16 clash at the 74,867 Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina have sold well in one section but not in another according to a seat map.

A long read from The Athletic claims that FIFA's stateside staff wanted to focus on the use MLS stadiums of a lower capacity for the fixtures - especially with lesser teams.

But while they felt it would be better for revenue and a way to avoid empty seats, FIFA’s European office, spearheaded by president Gianni Infantino, disagreed.

Eight of the 12 stadiums chosen have capacities of more than 65,000 and a mere 12 of the 64 fixtures will take place at MLS grounds.

Some fans have been given partial refunds after they paid more for tickets through the official club allocation when they went on sale.

The overall winner of the competition will receive a new trophy made by Tiffany & Co and containing Infantino's name engraved twice, as well as £93.5 million in prize money.