FIFA’s ambitious overhaul of the Club World Cup kicks off on June 15, 2025, ushering in a bold new era for global club football. With 32 teams competing across 12 stadiums in the United States, the newly expanded tournament is intended as a sparkling showcase ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
But while the competition promises record prize money and star-studded lineups, enthusiasm on the ground appears muted.
Tickets remain widely available, even for high-profile matches such as the July 13 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The opening match sees Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami face Egypt’s Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium – an encounter drawing attention not just for its on-field talent, but also for the controversial qualification process.
Inter Miami’s inclusion, despite an early MLS playoff exit, has fueled criticism that FIFA was determined to include Messi at any cost.
Meanwhile, some of Europe’s biggest names – including Liverpool, Barcelona, and Napoli – are notably absent due to a complex qualification system, prompting accusations of inconsistency and favoritism.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the move, saying:
“Everyone thinks that the country winning their own national or continental competition is the best in the world,” he said, referencing the Champions League and Copa Libertadores. “But that’s actually not the case. So we decided to create a real World Cup for teams.”
Beyond the format shake-up, the tournament is making headlines for its staggering financial scale.
With a USD 1 billion total prize pool, each of the 32 participating clubs is guaranteed a minimum of USD 9.55 million, a sum particularly transformative for clubs in Africa and other developing football regions.
For a team like Egypt’s Al Ahly, this represents more than just a participation bonus – it could be a financial game-changer, funding infrastructure, talent development, and long-term growth.
“The distribution model of the FIFA Club World Cup reflects the pinnacle of club football,” Infantino explained, “and represents the biggest-ever prize money for a football tournament comprising a seven-match group stage and playoff format with a potential payout of USD 125 million foreseen for the winners.”
In addition, FIFA is launching a USD 250 million global solidarity investment program to support club football in lower-resourced nations.
“This solidarity will undoubtedly provide a significant boost in our ongoing efforts in making football truly global,” Infantino added.
FIFA also insists that every dollar of revenue from the tournament will be reinvested in the game:
“FIFA will neither retain any funding for this tournament, as all revenues will be distributed to club football, nor will it touch FIFA’s reserves, which are set aside for global football development through the 211 FIFA Member Associations.”
Still, not everyone is convinced. Critics point to growing concerns over player welfare, with the global players’ union FIFPro launching legal action over the intensified calendar.
Others recall last year’s Copa America, where subpar pitches and smaller playing dimensions drew widespread complaints. FIFA has promised that all NFL venues for the Club World Cup will be converted to meet standard dimensions (105x68m) and feature natural grass.
On the pitch, however, the action promises to be elite. European champions Paris St Germain arrive fresh from a dominant 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
They will be joined by Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and South American titans like Botafogo, all aiming to lift the most lucrative club trophy in football history.
