A New Chapter in Football: The 32-Team FIFA Club World Cup
As the sun sets on June 14, 2025, the United States is poised to host the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament that promises to stir excitement among football fans worldwide. Running until July 13, the event is set to showcase some of the most formidable clubs from across the globe. However, with this significant expansion comes a host of questions and concerns that merit discussion.
1. Cramped Schedule Raises Concerns Over Player Welfare
FIFA’s shift from a smaller tournament to a massive 32-team event has raised eyebrows among various stakeholders, particularly regarding player welfare. Critics, including FIFPRO, the global football players’ union, have voiced their concerns about the increased workload on players brought about by more matches in a tightly packed schedule.
FIFPRO emphasized that the short off-season would hinder recovery, potentially affecting players’ mental and physical health. A recent report highlighted instances such as Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, who could play upwards of 78 games by season’s end, indicating a worrying trend of overexertion.
Furthermore, the World Leagues Forum (WLF) has expressed dissatisfaction with FIFA’s decision-making process, accusing the organization of prioritizing commercial interests over player health. Such assertions question the integrity of player welfare policies amid an expanded tournament format.
An elongated FIFA Club World Cup schedule in 2025 has reduced the already-short off-season for many top players in the tournament, increasing the chance of injury, according to FIFPRO [File: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters]
2. Will the Matches Be Competitive?
With an expanded format, the question of competitiveness looms large. While more teams means greater representation, it also raises the specter of mismatches. Groups featuring clubs from Europe or South America could dominate, as seen with Manchester City and Juventus likely overshadowing less prominent sides like Morocco’s Wydad AC.
Historically, teams from UEFA have largely triumphed in the Club World Cup, winning 16 out of the 20 editions played so far. This historical dominance suggests that unless other continental clubs significantly step up, the competitive balance may lean heavily in favor of European and South American teams.
Real Madrid are the most successful club in the Club World Cup, having won a record five titles [File: Josep Lago/AFP]
3. Where Are the Superstars and Superteams?
Fans may be excited to see stars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, but many top players will be conspicuously absent. Notably, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah won’t participate, as his club failed to qualify. FIFA’s decision to allocate a spot to Inter Miami to attract Messi further complicates the landscape, as it creates confusion over eligibility and selection metrics.
Remarkably, some elite clubs that claimed titles in their respective leagues, such as Barcelona and Napoli, have all found themselves out of contention due to FIFA’s ranking systems. This could lead to a less star-studded atmosphere at the tournament, with fans missing the chance to see some of football’s brightest talents.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah will be one of many global football stars missing from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 [File: Phil Noble/Reuters]
4. Introduction of a Special Transfer Window
In a groundbreaking but controversial move, FIFA announced a special transfer window allowing participating clubs to make last-minute transfers before the tournament. Spanning from June 1 to June 10, and later from June 27 to July 3, the move aims to help clubs and players with expiring contracts ensure their participation.
While this could benefit clubs looking to strengthen their lineups—like Real Madrid’s acquisition of Trent Alexander-Arnold—it has also sparked rampant speculation around players like Cristiano Ronaldo joining teams at the last minute. Such fusion of last-minute signings and an already spectacular lineup could amplify interest and excitement around the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi club Al Nassr, is out of contract this month, leading to rampant speculation that he might use the special transfer window to join another team participating in the FIFA Club World Cup [File: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters]
5. Dress Rehearsal for Next Year’s FIFA World Cup
The Club World Cup is not just an end in itself; for many, it serves as a precursor to the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the US set to host the World Cup, the tournament will provide a snapshot of what to expect, especially in venues that will also host World Cup matches.
Stadiums like MetLife Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will feature prominently in both tournaments, offer fans a chance to familiarize themselves with the atmosphere and logistics ahead of the grand event.
However, ticket sales have been sluggish, with various tiers still available for purchase. This could impact the atmosphere at games, though FIFA remains hopeful that the significance of the event will drive fan engagement as the start date approaches.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy is displayed during the UEFA Preliminary Draw at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, Friday, December 13, 2024. [File: Martin Meissner/AP Photo]
As the FIFA Club World Cup prepares to kick off, the football world will be watching closely, not only to see who emerges victoriously but also to witness how this enlarged format will shape the future of club competitions globally.
