Another billion-dollar FIFA game: the most important questions and answers about the Club World Cup

The rule still holds in world football that additional competitions, expanded fields, and more matches make economic sense. Criticism of the dilution of sporting significance quickly fades away. The Club World Cup initially had a difficult time. But Gianni Infantino, the president of world football's governing body (FIFA), has kept his word, rejoicing over the billions in additional revenue and allowing the tournament to gain importance thanks to the large sums of money. He is not at a loss for superlatives. When the trophy was presented in November 2024, the Swiss said that the winner would "hold the world of club football in his hands."

FIFA is putting figures on the table that seem to come from a surreal world. The equivalent of €900 million in bonuses will be distributed among the 32 clubs. The entry fee is tiered according to market value; each European club receives €18 to €35 million, the South Americans €14 million each, and those from North and Central America, Africa, and Asia €9 each – and this without having played a single match. The winner can expect approximately €115 million if it's a European team. It seems as if money is being printed at the Club World Cup.

The final tally will show. At the moment, a lot of haze hangs over the tournament. FIFA does have proven sponsors on board (Visa, Qatar Airways), but how much they are willing to pay extra is unknown. Dazn is apparently paying the equivalent of €900 million for the media rights; the games are free to air. Dazn was something of a savior, allowing the Club World Cup to be called Mammon. The streaming service is now also being supported by Saudi Arabia, which leads to the obvious conclusion that Saudi Arabia is primarily making the lofty Club World Cup possible. It is conceivable that the Club World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2029. Or at the latest in 2033, a year before the World Cup in the country. In any case, FIFA is promising through the haze that it will not tap into its own reserves.

Criticism arose shortly after the announcement of the new tournament format in December 2022. FIFA was accused of implementing the reforms unilaterally and without consulting the affected leagues and associations. Opponents also complained that the tournament was a prestige project of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who, with the help of Middle Eastern donors, now also wanted to squeeze club football. Further criticisms: overplayed footballers, an even more condensed match schedule. Overload? And: From the quarterfinals onwards, the new men's tournament overlaps with the Women's European Championship in Switzerland, which begins on July 2nd, and is therefore not considered a component of FIFA's women's development program.

The Club World Cup in the USA runs from June 14 to July 13. The 63 matches will be played in Washington (DC), Charlotte, Orlando, Nashville, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta, New York (East Rutherford), Pasadena, and Cincinnati. The opening match between African champions al-Ahly from Cairo and Inter Miami will take place on June 14 at 8 p.m. local time (2 a.m. CEST) in Miami, and the final will take place on July 13 at 9 p.m. CEST at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, home to the New York Jets and New York Giants.

Like the World Cup, the Club World Cup is held every four years. At the last Club World Cup, only seven teams competed; now there are 32 in eight groups of four. The group stage is followed by the knockout round. This is the format that has long proven successful at the FIFA World Cup. Starting next year, the World Cup will feature 48 teams. Two key words: ever-increasing numbers.

FIFA allocated the 32 starting places among the six continental confederations. Europe received the largest contingent (12), ahead of South America (6), Asia (4), Africa (4), North and Central America including the Caribbean (4), Oceania (1), and the host country, the USA (1). Qualifying countries include all winners of the continental competitions from 2021 to 2024, as well as the most successful clubs from each confederation during that period – with a maximum of two clubs per country from Europe being allowed to compete. Inter Miami and Lionel Messi were "smuggled" into the World Cup with a wild card for PR reasons. Los Angeles FC was the last team to join. This was a financial success for the GC owners, who have been heavily criticized in Switzerland. In May, the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed the exclusion of the Mexican club Léon. The club shares ownership with Pachuca, which contradicts FIFA's Club World Cup regulations.

The new competition is associated with prestige for the association. FIFA can now serve not only national associations but also clubs directly – thus becoming a competitor to the continental associations. The Club World Cup challenges the Champions League, the most successful club competition, which continues to set the gold standard internationally. The prize money for the Club World Cup is more than a third as high (€900 million) as that of the Champions League for an entire season (€2.5 billion in 2024/25). The Club World Cup offers international comparisons, matches against "new" opponents relatively unknown on their own continent. Whether FIFA's plans will pay off, however, is questionable. So far, at least in the USA, advance ticket sales have met with little interest. The closer the opening draws, the more there is talk of sharply falling ticket prices.

The clubs are traveling with their best players, which underlines the tournament's sporting significance: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Manchester City). Many clubs have specifically used the new transfer window to strengthen their squads before the tournament. 58 transfers were completed – worth 400 million Swiss francs. For the English club, the tournament is an opportunity to make amends, as it was for FC Bayern and Real Madrid, who also disappointed internationally last season. The first contender for the title is Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain , who are traveling with all their superstars. Non-European clubs are considered outsiders at best.

The significantly increased entry and prize money are a significant financial incentive for the clubs, and they take the tournament accordingly seriously. The money stifles criticism and is the oil of the World Cup machine. Those who initially raised questions have since remained silent. Currently, only league representatives like Spaniard Javier Tebas have dared to speak out. He spoke to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope of a "completely absurd competition" that is affecting the ecosystem of the European leagues. In addition to the cash flow for Europe's top clubs, however, it is questionable what sporting value they attach to matches against foreign opponents they would never face in any other tournament. Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is playing for Borussia Dortmund in Group F against teams such as Fluminense from Brazil, Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, and the South Korean club Ulsan HD. Kobel said the Club World Cup is "a great event in itself," but "a challenge" in terms of timing. What he might have meant to say: The players will be spending up to six weeks in the USA this summer instead of vacationing with their families. But the players also earn more thanks to the Club World Cup.