FIFA Club World Cup 2025: What is it?, and why it's winning fans over

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has taken the attention of soccer fans worldwide and proven to be a mastermind event by the world’s organizing body.

Played across the United States (mainly on the East coast) the first edition of the expanded format has been highlighted by previously rare matchups like Inter Miami CF vs. Porto, FC Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors, Flamengo vs. Chelsea FC, and CF Monterrey vs. River Plate.

But what is it, how did it come to be and who is competing in the competition?

What Is the FIFA Club World Cup?

The FIFA Club World Cup brings together the continental champions and best ranked clubs of the six confederations from a four-year qualification period, along with a champions from the host nation’s domestic league.

The tournament is organized by FIFA and serves as a global showdown to crown the best club team in the world.

Previously a seven-team tournament played every December, the tournament expanded to a 32-team format for the 2025 edition. The new format will be played every four years similar to the FIFA World Cup. The previous format has been kept and rebranded as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, played yearly.

Unlike the FIFA World Cup, which features national teams, the Club World Cup showcases the best professional clubs from around the globe — each having earned their place by winning their respective regional competitions.

The tournament features a lineup of 12 clubs from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 each from Africa, Asia, and North America, 1 team representing Oceania, and 1 club from the host country.

The confederations involved include:

UEFA (Europe) – UEFA Champions League winners and best ranked teams
CONMEBOL (South America) – Copa Libertadores winners and best ranked teams
Concacaf (North America) – Concacaf Champions Cup winners
AFC (Asia) – AFC Champions League winners and best ranked teams
CAF (Africa) – CAF Champions League winners and best ranked teams
OFC (Oceania) – Best ranked OFC Champions League winners
Host – Club from the country hosting the tournament

Global Prestige

While not as long-standing as continental competitions like the UEFA Champions League or Copa Libertadores, the Club World Cup has grown in prominence since its debut in 2000. For clubs, it offers the rare chance to be crowned world champions, adding a unique title to their history. For fans, it’s a chance to watch matchups between elite clubs from different continents—something rarely seen in other competitions.

“Money Grab” or Masterpiece?

Over the years, the tournament has faced low ticket sales and limited fan engagement, particularly in regions where participating clubs lack a strong local following.

Critics have also labeled it a “money grab” by FIFA, arguing that the competition is more about commercial expansion than sporting merit. Some fans and analysts believe it places an unnecessary burden on clubs already dealing with packed domestic and international schedules, with little added prestige outside of Europe and South America. Despite these concerns, FIFA continues to push for the tournament’s growth, including its upcoming expansion in 2025.

In Summary: The FIFA Club World Cup is where the best clubs on each continent come to compete for a single global title. It’s a celebration of international club soccer and a showcase of world-class talent and competition. It has caused some divided opinion on the legitimatize of the tournament and caused some to call it a quick “money grab’ from FIFA and a burden to teams already heavy schedules.