FIFA Club World Cup 2025 sparks global discussions.© (@Football__Tweet )
The revamped FIFA Club World Cup is set to take residence in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, marking a significant shift in the tournament’s format and sparking considerable debate. Once an annual competition featuring seven teams, the event will host 32 clubs every four years, adopting a structure similar to FIFA’s men’s and women’s World Cups. This expansion has drawn criticism for its potential strain on players and scheduling conflicts, raising questions about FIFA’s priorities.
Qualification for the tournament is based on performances in continental competitions over the past four seasons. Europe dominates with 12 spots, allocated to clubs based on UEFA rankings. Champions League winners like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Real Madrid have secured their places, while other European teams qualified through a points system. However, limitations allow only two clubs per country, excluding finalists like Liverpool. South America contributes six teams, while Asia, Africa, and North and Central America each have four representatives. Oceania and the host nation, the United States, round out the lineup, with Inter Miami controversially selected after winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield despite not being league champions. This decision is widely seen as a bid to include Lionel Messi in the tournament, which has struggled to generate enthusiasm.
The tournament draw, scheduled for December 5, 2023, divides the 32 teams into eight groups of four for a round-robin phase, with the top two advancing to knockout rounds. Matches will be held across 12 U.S. cities, with the opening game in Miami and the final in New Jersey. All games will be streamed for free by DAZN, with potential sublicensing to local broadcasters.
The expanded format has faced backlash from player unions and leagues, citing concerns about an oversaturated calendar. Global players’ union FIFPro and European leagues have highlighted the risks to player wellbeing. With only five weeks between the Club World Cup final and the 2025-26 Premier League season kickoff, players and managers are voicing frustrations. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called for a postponed start to the Premier League season. At the same time, Kevin De Bruyne criticized the increasing match load, emphasizing that financial incentives often outweigh player welfare.
FIFA has defended the tournament, stating it contributes minimally to calendar congestion. The organization announced the formation of a Task Force on Player Welfare, led by Arsene Wenger, to address these concerns. However, scepticism remains as the Club World Cup will overlap with the Women’s Euro 2025, creating a scheduling clash that could divide attention between the two events. FIFA attributed the overlap to unavoidable calendar constraints but emphasized the limited time zone conflicts between Switzerland and the United States.
As anticipation builds for the expanded tournament, the controversy surrounding its implementation underscores broader tensions in football over balancing commercial growth with player welfare and equitable representation.
