Washington: The United States is hosting FIFA’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup from June 14 to July 13, marking history’s most ambitious and expensive expansion of club football. Held across 12 U.S. stadiums, the month-long event will be a global showcase ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
However, the billion-dollar tournament, the brainchild of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, is already facing heavy scrutiny over qualification rules, player fatigue, and a lack of enthusiasm in parts of Europe. Legal challenges and strike threats have loomed as teams prepared for kickoff.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami opens the tournament against Egypt’s Al Ahly in Miami. The event will feature elite clubs like Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Chelsea, who qualified under FIFA’s new system.
Inter Miami qualified controversially by topping the MLS regular season, bypassing the actual MLS champions. FIFA has secured a last-minute $1 billion broadcast deal with DAZN, bringing expected revenue to $2 billion and offering a $1 billion prize pool, including up to $125 million for the champion.
Despite pushback from European football bodies, there is intense anticipation in Latin America, with fans from Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina purchasing large volumes of tickets.
Boca Juniors sold out all group matches, and clubs like River Plate and Monterrey have made big signings, including Sergio Ramos and Paulinho. South Korea’s Ulsan HD and Japan’s Urawa Reds also enter with national pride. For Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, the tournament is part of a broader effort to boost the Pro League’s global profile.
While the tournament is meant to be FIFA’s “prime club competition,” its future will hinge on its reception in the U.S. With American fans used to seeing top teams in friendlies, FIFA is betting this competitive format will capture attention.
The tournament is scheduled to be held every four years, but that could change based on the outcome of this edition. If it flops, critics will question its necessity. If it thrives, FIFA may consider hosting it more frequently as part of its commercial strategy ahead of 2026.
