FIFA’s Club World Cup: Football’s Future or Fatal Mistake?

In April 2021, when Europe’s top soccer clubs announced the Super League, fans responded with outrage, protests, and even governmental engagement. Within forty-eight hours, this venture failed due to public outcry.

However, as the world turned its attention to a public inquiry of a seemingly failed Super League, FIFA took the opportunity to pursue its intentions under the radar. Now, they’ve stepped into the spotlight with something much bigger: a reimagined FIFA Club World Cup. Unlike the exclusive European rebel project, FIFA’s version is global, carefully planned, and set to launch in the U.S. in summer 2025 with 32 teams. This could be the biggest shake-up in football in decades.

The Origins: FIFA’s Long-Held Dream of Club Dominance

It all started in 1960 with the Intercontinental Cup—a showdown between the top clubs from Europe and South America. But FIFA wasn’t involved. That didn’t sit well with them.

In 2000, FIFA launched its own Club World Cup. Corinthians won the first one, but thanks to poor planning and weak interest, it flopped and went on pause. When it returned in 2005, it was more of a prestigious friendly than a championship tournament.

But FIFA would not give up on its vision. Over the years, they slowly built a bigger vision: a club tournament that’s truly global—and powerful enough to change the game.

The New Format: Like the World Cup, But for Clubs

In 2025, the Club World Cup is getting a full makeover. It’s no longer just a footnote—it’s the main event. The new version will have 32 teams, split into eight groups of four, followed by knockouts. It’s set to be played every four years, just like the international World Cup.

Teams will qualify based on how well they’ve done in continental competitions and rankings, pulling from every FIFA region. The goal? To make this as big, prestigious, and profitable as the World Cup.

Messi, Miami, and the Showy Side of It All

The U.S. will host the tournament, and representing the host country will be—surprisingly—Inter Miami. They weren’t champions, but FIFA pointed to their regular season performance. Really though, it’s about one man: Lionel Messi.

Putting Messi’s team in the spotlight says a lot. This isn’t just a football tournament. It’s a show, a business move, a PR play. And it’s built to grab attention.

FIFA’s Bigger Goal: Challenging UEFA’s Stronghold

To really get why FIFA is pushing this so hard, you need to look at the money.

FIFA makes its biggest profits from the World Cup, which only happens every four years. In between, club football takes over—and that’s UEFA’s turf, especially with the money machine that is the Champions League.

Now, with the Club World Cup, FIFA has found a way in. It’s their chance to tap into the club football market and take some of that power away from UEFA.

The Big Pitch: Football for Everyone, Not Just Europe

FIFA’s selling point is simple: inclusion.

Whereas the Champions League attempts to only profit the top soccer clubs in Europe, the Club World Cup does something different—it gives equitable global exposure and financial opportunities to African, Asian, and American teams.

This is not merely fair—it’s strategic. FIFA is trying to grow its influence in markets where UEFA has little presence.

Big Money Moves: DAZN, Saudi Arabia, and the Billion-Dollar Triangle

FIFA scored a big win with a broadcast deal through DAZN, which will stream all 63 matches for free. That makes it the most widely accessible football tournament ever.

But there’s more to it. Right before DAZN got the rights, Saudi Arabia pumped a billion dollars into the platform. Then FIFA handed the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia and announced a billion-dollar prize pool for the Club World Cup. It’s no coincidence—FIFA, Saudi Arabia, and DAZN are clearly working in sync.

UEFA’s Dilemma: Pushed Into a Corner

UEFA sees what’s happening. But what can they really do?

Top European clubs stand to make a fortune from the Club World Cup. Bayern Munich could make up to $126 million in just four weeks—more than what many clubs earn in an entire season. UEFA relies on these clubs to keep the Super League threat at bay. But if FIFA starts offering more, those loyalties might shift.

The Cracks Are Already Showing

For all its ambition, the new tournament has problems. The biggest? Player tiredness.

Footballers are already overloaded. This tournament cuts into their only real break. Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde might play 78 games this season. Even Kevin De Bruyne has said what many are thinking: “Money speaks louder than players’ voices.” FIFPRO, the global players’ union, is now taking legal action.

The Money Gap Widens—and “Farmer’s Leagues” Suffer

More matches bring more money—but mostly for the usual suspects.

Twelve European clubs are in the mix, and they’ll likely win the bulk of the prize money. Bayern Munich will get $28 million just for showing up. That’s more than some teams make in a whole year.

This only deepens the divide. Rich clubs get richer, while smaller leagues fall further behind. What some call “farmer’s leagues” are becoming more of a reality.

Too Much Football, Not Enough Meaning

Here’s another issue: overload.

Football’s schedule is packed—domestic leagues, cups, friendlies, qualifiers. With so much going on, it’s getting harder to care. The Club World Cup will launch during a summer already full of other major tournaments.

Think about the NFL—only 17 regular-season games, and each one feels huge. Football might be losing that sense of urgency. If every match feels the same, fans might start tuning out.

FIFA’s Ticket Trick: Using 2026 as a Trap

So far, ticket sales for the Club World Cup haven’t been great. To fix that, FIFA came up with a new plan: buy Club World Cup tickets, get priority access to 2026 World Cup games.

Buy two matches, get a shot at a World Cup ticket. Buy 20, and you might score a Final ticket—if you also pay a bit extra. It’s a clever move, but it also shows that FIFA is still trying to convince fans this tournament matters.

The Big Question: Game-Changer or Expensive Misstep?

Sepp Blatter once called the Club World Cup a “mistake.” Some still feel the same.

But this time, it’s not rogue clubs pushing for change—it’s FIFA, at the top, rolling out a carefully crafted plan. They talk about growth and inclusion, but behind it all are big money deals, geopolitics, and global influence.

Yes, football should belong to Casablanca as much as Madrid, to Riyadh as much as Paris. But more and more, it feels like it belongs to FIFA’s inner circle.

So, will this bold move truly open up the game—or just speed up its unraveling? That’s the question hanging over football’s future.