The head of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, recently called the FIFA Club World Cup the “most successful club competition in the world.” He made this big announcement just before the final match of the new 32-team Club World Cup, which featured Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea, two of the biggest soccer clubs in Europe.
What Is the Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup is a tournament where the best club teams from each continent face off to find out who’s truly the best in the world. In soccer, there are club teams and national teams. National teams, like Brazil or the USA, are made up of players from the same country. Club teams, like Real Madrid or Manchester City, are professional teams that can include players from all over the world.
Until now, the Club World Cup had only a few teams (usually seven), but in 2025, for the first time ever, FIFA made it much bigger with 32 teams, similar to the men’s FIFA World Cup.
This new tournament was held in the United States, and while not every game had a full stadium, FIFA says it was a big success in other ways—especially money-wise.
How Much Money Did It Make?
Infantino said that the tournament brought in almost $2.1 billion in revenue over 63 matches. That’s about $33 million per game. To put that in perspective, that’s more money per match than most other soccer competitions, including famous leagues like the English Premier League or the UEFA Champions League.
Infantino proudly said, “The golden age of club football has started,” meaning he believes this tournament is the beginning of a very exciting and successful time for soccer clubs all over the world.
Concerns and Criticism
Even though FIFA is celebrating the tournament’s success, not everyone agrees.
Some people have raised concerns about the players’ health. The matches were played in the hot summer weather of the U.S., and high temperatures can be dangerous for athletes who are running for 90 minutes or more. It’s not easy to play a full soccer match in the heat!
Others have pointed out that players already play too many games every year. Between club leagues (like the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A), national team matches (like World Cup qualifiers), and tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, players have packed schedules.
One of the loudest critics was Jurgen Klopp, the former manager of Liverpool FC. Klopp is one of the most respected coaches in the game, and he said the tournament was “the worst idea ever implemented in football.”
He believes players need more rest, not more games.
What Did Fans Think?
Some fans were unsure about the new Club World Cup before it started. Would it be exciting? Would anyone actually care? Would fans show up?
Infantino admitted that some games didn’t have full crowds, but overall, he said people enjoyed it and that the teams were happy to be part of it.
“We heard that financially it would not work, that nobody is interested,” Infantino said. “But I can say we generated almost $2.1 billion in revenues. It is already the most successful club competition in the world.”
A Global Tournament
One of FIFA’s goals is to make soccer more global, not just focused on Europe. The Club World Cup included teams from every continent:
Europe: Teams like PSG and Chelsea represented the strongest European leagues.
South America: Traditional powerhouses like Brazilian clubs participated.
Asia, Africa, and North America: Teams from countries like Japan, Egypt, Mexico, and the U.S. also took part.
Infantino said some teams who didn’t qualify were asking how they could be part of it in the future. Teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, AC Milan, and Napoli all missed out this time—but might join in the next one.
What’s Next for the Club World Cup?
The next Club World Cup will be held in 2029, but FIFA hasn’t said yet if the tournament will happen every two years or if even more teams might be included.
Infantino said FIFA is being careful and wants to grow the tournament the right way. He said, “We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football.”
Fun Soccer Facts
The UEFA Champions League is considered the top club competition in Europe, and it includes elite clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.
Real Madrid has won the most Club World Cups in history, with 5 titles as of 2023.
A soccer match lasts 90 minutes, with two halves of 45 minutes each and extra time if needed.
The World Cup for national teams happens every four years, while club teams compete in their leagues and cups every year.
The U.S. hosting the Club World Cup is part of a bigger plan to grow soccer in North America, especially ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Why It Matters
The Club World Cup is important because it gives teams from different parts of the world a chance to compete on the biggest stage. While European teams have more money and fame, clubs from Africa, Asia, and South America have amazing talent too. This tournament helps shine a light on those teams and their players.
And for fans, it means more exciting matchups we don’t usually see. Like seeing a Brazilian club face a top team from England or Mexico.
Even though there are still questions and critics, FIFA believes this Club World Cup could become one of the biggest and most exciting events in world soccer.
In the end, whether you love it or not, the FIFA Club World Cup is here to stay—and it’s going to keep getting bigger.
