Before the tournament even started, Spirit’s captain chopper posted a video pointing out that at the Esports World Cup 2025 there were barely any real fans in the crowd. The clip was later taken down, but on Reddit it quickly went viral. 

People reacted negatively, highlighting the crowd’s lack of genuine interest in the game, the suspiciously synchronized behavior, and the production team’s attempt to boost crowd audio over the game to create the illusion of a massive Arab fanbase.

Many community members agreed that the atmosphere felt forced and inauthentic.

Everyone wearing a brand new jersey, everyone standing doing the same hand movement and the crowd audio is boosted over game sound so you can only hear 'lets go falcons' and other choreographed chants the whole game. Hilarious how obvious it looks, you'd think they could afford a consultant to try and make it look real.

njoshua326

Some comments even mocked the situation with dark humor.

"They told me if I cheer hard enough they would give me my passport back."

Satsumamanki

Others pointed out how the organizers could have handled it better.

But you could have found actual fans surely right? And then do a promo where you just pay their tickets. Then you'll have actual fans cheering, you'll look good/kind as an org and it will probably have cost less.

Adorable-Extent3667

And finally, there’s the wider criticism of the tournament itself.

This tournament is unbearable cringe. Paid crowd, strict guidelines what can’t be talked about. It feels so unnatural and fake. I watched like 2 games and the casters talked 20 times about the millions this tournament is worth… clearly they are told to talk about it…

Yunalaiiii