Who got an invite to FIFA's Club World Cup?
The best brand, not the best teams.
Football fans don’t appear to be interested in the new expanded Club World Cup - the competition FIFA President Gianni Infantino says will determine which club is truly “the best in the world”.
But what IS interesting is who’s invited, and who’s not. The cool brand of Inter Miami is in, but Europe’s best team this season, Liverpool, are not. Neither are Barcelona. Oh FIFA. What are you like?!
What actually is the Club World Cup?
It’s a ‘bigger, bolder’ 32-team World Cup for clubs. Replacing the 7-team format that has stubbornly failed to catch the imagination of the public. The new FIFA Club World Cup will be played from June 14-July 13 this year.
Where?
The United States: New Jersey, Charlotte, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, Orlando, Nashville, Cincinnati, LA, Washington D.C…and Miami.
Hang on, isn’t America hosting the actual World Cup in 2026?
Yes indeed. Co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
So what you’re saying, is that America is now right at the centre of world soccer?
Sort of. America is loving the round football like never before. It’s fascinating. From the increase in American fans and consumption, to the increase in power and business. From hosting to branding to buying half the clubs in the world’s top football League, the English Premier League. To the attempt to breakaway into an ESL (they’ll likely be back) and influencing the fates of football with documentaries. Not least the case of Wrexham. Even Ted Lasso was part of the rise of soccer in America.
The World Cup is bigger than ever before. Is this why the Club World Cup is bigger?
Not really no. The expanded 48-team World Cup was about the politics of more nations getting to the party, from outside Europe. This is good for the President and the power brokers at FIFA. And good for the hosts. The problem is that it’s messed with the perfect 32 format and dilutes quality. Something I pointed out in my writing and broadcasting from the moment it was announced.
Why has the Club World Cup got so big then?
FIFA, long before Infantino’s reign, has privately known for a long time that the 7-team Club World Cup is a lame duck. The interest in it is minimal, the disruption is unwanted the inclusion of teams that just aren’t good enough might be fair, but they have failed to give a decent game to the best in Europe. Opportunity is a precious thing, but credibility is needed to.
So FIFA have finally had enough of it being lame and decided to beef it up?
Yes, but more than that, it plays into long-running tensions between FIFA and European governing body UEFA. Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars a World Cup brings in, FIFA have been jealous of the Champions League, seen as the pinnacle of club football.
Who’s actually playing in this new Club World Cup?
It could never be entirely straight forward to select 32 clubs fairly from a newly-invented format – but having the best teams possible would seem the best way to give the tournament some credibility. Let’s deal with the actual line-up first…
Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Ulsan HD, Al Ahly, Wydad AC, Espérance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, LAFC, Pachuca, Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Auckland City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris St Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg and Inter Miami CF. A mixture of continental champions and qualification based on rankings over four years.
That seems fair enough?
On first inspection yes. Until you consider the case of Inter Miami, who qualified by winning the 2024 MLS Supporters Shield.
The MLS Supporters Shield? What’s that?
It’s an extra trophy for the MLS team with the best regular season record.
….and was always going to mean qualifying for the Club World Cup?
No. Until Inter Miami won it. Ever-so-suddenly announced before the MLS Play-offs. On Miami’s pitch Infantino said: “In the United States you are consistently the best club on the field of play.” Then they were beaten by Atlanta United. Twice. And eliminated from the MLS play-offs that determine the actual champions of America.
This all sounds quite random.
Oh that’s the last thing it was. It was very deliberate. Because Inter Miami, owned by Beckham and co, watched by the stars, has become a brand that stretches beyond football fans. They have more in common with Taylor Swift’s beloved Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL than other soccer teams. In fact, on recent shopping trips in the UK (what we can safely call a football hotbed) I saw the most prominent shirts and clothing were from a relatively new MLS brand. Inter Miami, and their distinctive pink and black branding. World class marketing. The football team? Hmm.
Steady on. They’ve got Lionel Messi haven’t they?
Yes. 37-year-old Lionel Messi who’s had an incredible, some would say unmatched, career. But shouldn’t be expected to still perform miracles at the age of 37, and with injuries catching up with him. And Luis Suarez. Who’s 37 too. Both still capable of magic. Both past their peak and with teammates who wouldn’t get a game in strong leagues.
So are you saying FIFA manufactured a way to seize on Inter Miami as one of the 32 teams, even though they aren’t the MLS champions?
Yes. The draw was conducted in Miami by the way.
Well ok, but America are the hosts. Surely it’s okay to have Inter Miami joining the MLS winners in the 32 competing teams?
The actual champions of men’s soccer in America aren’t invited to the Club World Cup.
Who are the actual champions?
LA Galaxy. The winning team, but not the biggest brand.
Okay but there’s lots of teams in. who whoever misses out, tough.
To an extent yes, but ‘own goal’ is perhaps the best way to describe the line-up. Just two teams from the world’s best league. And one of them isn’t Liverpool – who’ve been consistently, to use Infantino’s word, the best team in Europe this season.
So what! Liverpool should have had won more and done more to qualify?
True there had to be a cut-off point. But the Club World Cup, which needs to build credibility and interest, won’t have a team that’s leading the new Champions League format with six wins from six. Including victory over Real Madrid. So how can this new tournament be determining the best in the world, as per Infantino’s claim? Liverpool’s form might cool in the second half of the season. But they will still be one of the world’s best teams.
And you were joking about Barcelona not being in? Because isn’t it meant to “decide the world’s best team.”
No I’m not joking. Take another look at the list of teams if you don’t believe me!
But no country should be allowed more than a couple of teams, for fairness.
Brazil has four. And Brazilian club football is a long was below the days of Zico’s Flamengo. The last eleven club world champions have been from Europe. The South American representatives being beaten in six of those finals and failing to make the final on the other five occasions.
Who’s broadcasting this?
The streaming platform DAZN. It’s up to them whether they sublicense rights for local free to air broadcasters. They reportedly paid around 1 billion euros.
How much?!!! Isn’t that a lot for a tournament a lot of fans don’t care about?
Yes
Mind you, fans will want to watch some football in the summer
Well yes, football fans tend to be easily persuaded. But FIFA is facing legal action from player unions and leagues. The scheduling piles on games to an already congested calendar, with player burnout a major concern.
And it’s the only major tournament of the soccer summer?
The only men’s. It’s the Women’s Euros from July 2-27 of course.
What? Seriously? Don’t FIFA say they are huge backers of women’s football, Surely they wouldn’t want to take any of the attention away from such a big women’s tournament?
UEFA run the women’s Euros.
Oh. I see.