Bigger Stage, Same Problem: FIFA Club World Cup Faces Uphill Battle for Relevance
This summer marks a new chapter for the FIFA Club World Cup, as it expands to 32 teams and will be hosted in the United States from June 15th to July 13th, 2025. The tournament now mirrors the format and scale of the FIFA World Cup, signaling FIFA's bold attempt to boost its global relevance. With major clubs from across continents set to compete, the ambition is clear. However, deep-rooted issues still cast doubt on whether this revamped edition will truly capture widespread interest.
Historically, the Club World Cup has failed to resonate beyond the die-hard supporters of the clubs involved. Previous editions, with only seven participants and a lopsided structure favoring European and South American champions, often felt like glorified exhibition tournaments. The European entrants — UEFA Champions League winners — have routinely coasted to titles, with minimal resistance from less-resourced clubs from Asia, Africa, or Oceania. That disparity in quality has made results predictable and engagement low.
The 2025 expansion to 32 teams aims to solve that, but it may have created new challenges. Inserting a month-long tournament into an already congested global calendar, especially a year ahead of the 2026 World Cup, raises concerns about player fatigue. Many players will be coming off demanding seasons and may also be called up for continental competitions like the Euros or Copa América, both of which conclude just before the Club World Cup begins. Rested stars might be limited, and club managers may resist risking their top talents for a FIFA-branded competition with no long-standing tradition or emotional pull.
Even with the U.S. as host, offering world-class stadiums, strong logistics, and a growing soccer culture, the Club World Cup faces tough competition for attention. The American sports calendar in summer is already crowded, with baseball in full swing and the NBA and NHL just wrapping up their finals. Adding to that, Copa América and Euro 2024 in Germany will dominate global soccer headlines. For many American fans still adjusting to the importance of international club soccer, the Club World Cup may struggle to stand out.
Another lingering issue is the unclear identity of the tournament. While the World Cup is the pinnacle of international football and the UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition, the Club World Cup sits awkwardly between the two. It lacks historical weight, emotional narratives, or rivalries that hook fans. For many, it feels manufactured, a tournament created more for FIFA’s branding ambitions than for genuine sporting drama. FIFA is betting that this year’s changes will turn the Club World Cup into a global spectacle. With massive American venues, top-tier clubs from every continent, and more broadcast partnerships than ever before, the infrastructure is in place. However, the question remains: is it possible to manufacture meaning and passion around a tournament that, to this point, has lacked both? Unless the on-field competition delivers compelling matchups, underdog stories, and dramatic moments, this revamped Club World Cup could still fall flat, even on the world’s biggest sports stage.
