FIFA’s Inaugural Club World Cup Set to Launch in the US Amid Challenges
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is poised to kick off on June 15, featuring 32 teams and 63 matches across 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities. This tournament represents a significant investment by FIFA, aimed at showcasing club football ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, it comes with challenges including ticket sales, controversial qualification rules, and player welfare concerns.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will face Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahly in the opening match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, but ticket availability remains an issue, with many still up for grabs just days before the start.
The inclusion of Inter Miami in the tournament has sparked debate, as they secured a spot by topping Major League Soccer’s regular season standings despite an early playoff exit. Critics argue this reflects FIFA’s desperation to feature Messi, raising questions about the integrity of the qualification process. Notably, prominent teams like Liverpool, Barcelona, and Napoli, all champions of their respective leagues, will not participate.
FIFA’s decision to grant a spot to the host nation and its allocation to Inter Miami has drawn scrutiny, especially following the exclusion of Club Leon, the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners, due to shared ownership conflicts. Los Angeles FC took their place in the tournament.
Despite these challenges, FIFA has secured a $1 billion TV rights deal with streaming platform DAZN, contributing to an anticipated total revenue of $2 billion. This has allowed FIFA to announce a substantial prize pool of $1 billion, with the winning club set to receive up to $125 million—25% more than Paris Saint-Germain earned in their entire Champions League campaign.
However, concerns about player welfare persist, as the global players’ union FIFPro has taken legal action against FIFA over the tournament’s scheduling, which compresses recovery time between seasons. Additionally, issues regarding playing surfaces remain after previous tournaments faced criticism for poor conditions.
The tournament will be divided into eight groups of four teams, with top contenders including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. Defending Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain enter as one of the favorites but face a tough Group B that includes Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, and the Seattle Sounders.
For FIFA, the Club World Cup serves as a critical test of America’s appetite for football and a reflection of the governing body’s vision for the sport’s commercial future leading up to the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
