Originally planned for 2020 this year the FIFA Club World Cup will be played out as an intriguing expanded format. It’s the annual tournament set to determine which singular professional football club around the globe reigns supreme! This year’s edition of the tournament will be the largest, expanding from 32 clubs to 48, doubling the number of participants from the last seven iterations. It is something that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has very high hopes for, including getting his name engraved on the trophy. Conspicuous omissions — like the current Italian champions Napoli, as well as the champions of England and Spain — have critics worried that FIFA’s big event is lacking in credibility.
With the tournament about to get underway, it should make for a terrific match up. Skepticism lingers as to whether it’s for real this time. Infantino’s ambition for the event is clear. He envisions it as a celebration of football’s elite. Without participation from the best teams, that vision may be undercut.
Expanded Format and Qualifying Criteria
As FIFA’s most recent decision to expand the tournament from seven to 32 clubs indicates, increasing competitiveness and fan engagement should be core objectives. The qualifying criteria were intended to reward the best, strongest clubs over a four-year cycle. This strategy was intended to incentivize performance without bias over time and non-biased selection.
That four-year qualifying window has barred clubs like Napoli. Given how universally loved fans considered Napoli’s Serie A triumph, this omission is all the more glaring. With the Italian side’s incredible season came widespread notice — not just in Italy, but all over Europe. Their exclusion from the tournament has led to discussions about how arbitrary and subjective the criteria are.
The opposition is made up of gauntlet-like juggernauts like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Manchester City. These teams have a rich history in world cups and Olympic games, thus increasing the hopes and expectations surrounding this tournament. With these clubs on display it would draw greater interest from viewers and help elevate FIFA’s vision for the event itself.
The Role of Key Teams and Players
As the world’s best club team, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) plays a monumental role in setting the tournament’s legitimacy. The French champions recently added their first-ever Champions League title to their trophy case — they were every bit the dominant force through the knockout stages. Their participation is important not just because they are here, but they are part of the new wave of football powerhouses along with established megas.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence is notable. The footballing legend, according to reports, declined several enticing invitations to join this year’s Club World Cup. This decision has understandably left fans wondering about the long-term appeal of the tournament and whether it will be able to draw in top-tier talent.
Lionel Messi’s arrival to Inter Miami has radically changed the club’s trajectory, making it an international brand in minutes. His strong play was vital in Miami’s first-ever entry into the tournament after topping the regular-season standings in last year’s MLS. Both Messi and PSG’s participation would definitely add a lot of star power and appeal to the event, especially for American audiences.
Financial Stakes and Future Implications
The money flowing around the FIFA Club World Cup has been in the spotlight. The tournament scored a huge $1 billion TV rights agreement with the sports streaming platform DAZN. This agreement was completed only six months before the event was to begin. The sheer size of this agreement exemplifies the growing commercial value of football and its capacity to attract lucrative investments.
This year’s tournament promises an equally exhilarating prize. The prize at stake for the winners is up to $125 million, creating a rabidly competitive overall culture among the clubs participating in the NEF. Such a financial boon will inevitably make this option appealing to teams wanting to boost their cachet in international football.
The tournament will additionally act as a litmus test for measuring the appetite for the game of football in the United States. America will host the 48-team World Cup next year alongside Canada and Mexico as a co-host. The breakout session will provide firsthand knowledge on cultivating local fandom and creating lasting impressions with the game. It’s still very much up in the air how American audiences would react to an international club competition fielding both recognizable and less recognizable teams.
