Analysis of the 2025 Club World Cup: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has come to an end, with Chelsea being crowned champion after defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final. What overall assessment does this tournament leave us with after a month of heat, travel, and matches? Did the atmosphere, sometimes good and sometimes not so much, meet expectations? Or does FIFA president Gianni Infantino have work to do to make this tournament a long-term success?
Our correspondents who covered the event share their final impressions on the positive, negative, and controversial aspects of the tournament.
Final Thoughts
Mark Ogden: “Let’s be positive. The football was good, the atmosphere and the color of the fans from Brazil and Argentina brought the tournament to life and, finally, the attendance was at the levels that FIFA wanted. In addition, and this is important, the best team in the world (PSG) showed their best game and demonstrated the quality of football and the club to the public in the United States. On the negative side, 32 teams in the competition are too many. Overall, apart from the climatic problems, it has been a positive first attempt in the competition. Rating: 6/10.”
Lizzy Becherano: “The Club World Cup exceeded my expectations by seeing the teams take the competition seriously and the fans fill most of the stadiums. The tournament gave us moments of great football, with the excitement of seeing the less favored teams face the greats of Europe. There are still too many aspects of the Club World Cup to improve for this tournament to be truly a success. Rating: 6/10.”
Rob Dawson: “It wasn’t perfect, but it was a largely positive first edition of the expanded Club World Cup. There were good matches, surprising results, drama and talking points. Most importantly, the fans showed up. Most matches had good attendance. The big European teams took it seriously, but, most importantly, they didn’t have it easy. Rating: 7/10.”
Gab Marcotti: “It’s been said over and over, but it’s the first of its kind, it came about for reasons of self-interest, organizing a tournament in the United States in the summer isn’t easy and we really had no idea how successful it would be. Now at least we know that the rest of the world can face the UEFA giants without being ashamed. We know there is real passion and interest, at least from the fans of the participating teams. That’s a step forward, although there’s still a lot to do. Rating: 7/10.”James Olley: “Somewhere in the middle of this inflated, ego-driven tournament, there’s a good idea trying to emerge. FIFA’s attempt to force this on the world at an accelerated pace, rather than growing the competition more steadily over time, led to a version that was often difficult to like. That said, there were positive elements that give it a platform to build on. The Brazilian teams added real style and an edge to the matches given their desire to challenge European dominance. And no one who saw the angry scenes after Chelsea’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final can say that the players didn’t care. Rating: 5/10.”Alex Kirkland: “We had entertaining matches, great goals, large crowds, and enough memorable moments that made you feel this tournament was fulfilling its promise: a truly global competition, bringing together the best of world football, the elite teams of Europe, the passionate fans of South America, giants being humbled and underdogs being celebrated, all in one place. But there were really important problems with the fan experience when going to the matches and concerns about the well-being of the players, largely due to the heat and scheduling. Despite those problems, it went as well as expected and, as a journalist covering the event, it was really a lot of fun. Rating: 6/10.”
The Surprise Team
Ogden: “Fluminense is the obvious team if you consider how much they suffered in the Brazilian league last season. Reaching the semi-finals was an achievement, even though they were easily defeated by Chelsea thanks to two goals from João Pedro. Al Hilal also had an impact, giving a boost to the Saudi Pro League by reaching the quarter-finals after eliminating Manchester City in the round of 16. And let’s give some love to Inter Miami as well, although their place in the competition was controversially granted by FIFA president Infantino. They reached the knockout stage and gave us a couple of magical moments from Lionel Messi, so they lived up to it.”Becherano: “FC Porto entered the Club World Cup as the favorite to top Group A and likely triumph over Inter Miami, Palmeiras, and Al Ahly to advance to the round of 16 with three wins. Instead, the team struggled immensely, going from favorites to failures quickly. I expected a difficult match between Porto and Palmeiras, even some difficulty for the European team to beat Inter Miami, but I could never have imagined that the club would concede four goals to Al Ahly to conclude the competition with a 4-4 draw.”Dawson: “Manchester City. The victory over Juventus in their last group match seemed like a big statement, as Pep Guardiola chose a strong team and City played very well against a good team. At that moment, the bracket had opened up and they could chart a manageable path to New York and the semi-finals. But that was until they met Al Hilal, with the second half bringing back memories of everything that went wrong last season. It was chaotic and uneven and, in the end, City got what they deserved. It was a big surprise that they didn’t go further.”Marcotti: “Maybe it’s because I saw them twice in person, or maybe it’s because their fans raised the roof wherever they went. But Flamengo stood out, not only for the passion of their fans, but for what they showed on the field, starting with their 3-1 victory over the future world champions, Chelsea. With a lot of experience, tactical cunning and tons of confidence, they honored the shirt once worn by Zico.”Olley: “It has to be Chelsea. They arrived at the tournament after having silenced (but not silenced) doubts about coach Enzo Maresca, with some fans questioning his style of play despite qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Conference League. They leave with a second trophy, the validation of their approach, a promising start made by several new signings and a cash prize of at least £97 million. The indifference that many have shown towards the Club World Cup may mean that the glow of victory will not last as long as more conventional successes, but Maresca starts next season from a position of renewed strength. Furthermore, this young group should now possess a genuine belief that they can go and fight for the honors that matter most, after having put PSG to the sword in such an impressive way.” Alex Kirkland: “It ended up being Chelsea, given how incredibly and unexpectedly well they performed in the final on Sunday, but before that: Atletico Madrid. Entering the tournament, I really thought they had a chance to progress to the final stages, given some key players, like Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sorloth, who had been in very good form towards the end of the domestic season. In a short-format competition, I backed them to make a run. And then they lost 4-0 to PSG in their first match. Even two subsequent wins against Seattle Sounders and Botafogo weren’t enough to see them through to the round of 16, and that was bad luck, but it was a disappointing and premature exit, anyway.”
The Best Moment
Ogden: “My favorite moment, by far, was the video of Cole Palmer riding an e-scooter through Times Square on Friday night before the Club World Cup final. Chelsea have given their players space to breathe during their month in the United States because, while they are taking the competition seriously, they have also accepted that this tournament is taking place at a time when most players are on vacation or enjoying downtime before the new season. Too often, clubs or international teams lock their players away in remote hotels or training bases and expect them to focus solely on football. But Chelsea have taken a mature approach during the Club World Cup and the image of Palmer riding through the crowd, while a huge image of him was on the digital screens in Times Square, was fun. It was also proof that footballers have a life outside the game.”Becherano: “I was most impressed by the fans who traveled during the first stage of the Club World Cup, with Boca Juniors fans deserving a special mention. The whole group took over Miami, from the beaches to the stands inside Hard Rock Stadium, bringing Buenos Aires to the streets of South Florida. One of the best moments of the tournament came after the goal that Miguel Merentiel scored in the second half of the match against Bayern Munich, not for the actual shot but for the scenes that followed. The goal inspired the entire stadium to erupt in chaos, shaking the press room as the fans jumped and sang in unison. For a brief moment, Boca Juniors fans really believed they would win against Bayern, and the atmosphere reflected it.”Dawson: “Botafogo beating Paris Saint-Germain or Flamengo beating Chelsea. It’s nothing against PSG or Chelsea, both deserved to reach the final, but those results are exactly what a Club World Cup should be about. It would have been boring if the UEFA teams had swept everyone else. The knockout rounds becoming a less exciting version of the Champions League would not have suited anyone, neither the fans nor FIFA. Botafogo and Flamengo scoring those early victories for South America against the European heavyweights was proof that the premise of the tournament is solid. It just needs some tweaks and a viable place in the calendar.”Marcotti: “Wessam Abou Ali’s hat-trick against Porto. It ended 4-4 and proved irrelevant for both clubs since both teams went home early, but the Danish-born Palestinian striker stole the show. The striker is on his way to becoming a legend in Egypt at Al Ahly.”Olley: “Messi’s free kick against Porto. Once again, we have to set aside the cynical construction that led to this moment, with Inter Miami forced into the tournament just so Messi could help sell tickets. However, watching the 38-year-old score a magnificent free kick that gave them the victory was a moving moment of resilience and longevity from arguably the best player in the history of the game. FIFA got its viral moment for social media; the world received a reminder that Messi is still capable of making you jump out of your seat.”Kirkland: “Thibaut Courtois’ save in the 99th minute for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund, snatching Marcel Sabitzer’s near-perfect shot to preserve Madrid’s 3-2 lead in the quarter-finals. It was one of those saves that got better with every replay you saw and with every new angle you saw. The fact that it was the decisive touch, the last of the match, after a frenetic ending that had three goals and a red card in added time, a strange ending for an otherwise serene performance by Madrid, made it even better. This is what makes a great goalkeeper: doing absolutely nothing, throughout the match, and then, when it really matters, producing that.”
The Worst Moment
Ogden: “This isn’t really a moment, but the general negative aspect of the Club World Cup has been the weather, with disruptions caused by storms and problems that players and fans have had to overcome with the heat during the matches. Any tournament played in a northern hemisphere summer will have heat problems, Germany was very hot during Euro 2024, but the conditions in the United States during June and July have been so difficult at times that it has opened up a big conversation about how the 2026 World Cup will be organized next year.”Becherano: “The Hard Rock Stadium hosted several exciting moments of the Club World Cup, with Boca Juniors fans turning the stadium into La Bombonera Norte, a great goal by Luis Suárez and celebrations by Mamelodi Sundowns fans. But, as always, the problem with the stadium isn’t the action on the field, but the journey to that front door. There were confusing instructions to find the entrance, lack of communication between staff about security measures, and countless closed streets to make traffic to the media parking unbearable. FIFA once made public transport a requirement for cities and venues to bid to host an official match or World Cup, but the principle seems like a lost idea here. There are no public options available to get to the stadium, forcing fans and the media to use Ubers, private cars or chartered buses, making the experience a nightmare for everyone.”
Marcotti: “The weather delays that turned Chelsea against Benfica into a four-hour marathon that seemed endless. I get it, safety first, but there are lessons to be learned here and if certain places at certain times run a higher risk of this kind of thing, then we may need to reconsider it.”
Olley: “Jamal Musiala’s injury, insofar as one wonders what has to happen for the debate about player welfare to actually change something. Musiala’s horrific leg fracture against PSG was the consequence of the type of challenge that could have happened at any moment, fatigue didn’t seem an obvious factor, but asking players to go on for 11 months a year is putting excessive pressure on the elite of the game. It’s a relief that there haven’t been more serious injuries. The ongoing feud between FIFA and UEFA makes compromises scarce, but the game is heading, almost inexorably, towards becoming a year-round enterprise. That seems unsustainable, but, once again, no one in a position of power is listening.”Kirkland: “Sunday’s final offered several contenders, from PSG’s unworthy reaction to the defeat to the clumsy trophy presentation, but for me, the worst moment came much earlier in the tournament: talking to a fan and his excited young family, before the match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena before PSG against Atletico Madrid, and then hearing from them later that the game, in fact, had become a rather unpleasant experience, with the midday heat forcing them to leave their seats for much of the second half. If you’ve paid hundreds of dollars for tickets, the least you should expect is to be able to enjoy the experience with relative comfort.”
The Most Emotional Moment
Dawson: “This belongs in a separate category of ‘worst moment’, but it was extremely difficult to see Rúben Neves and João Cancelo break down during the tribute to Diogo Jota before the Al Hilal vs. Fluminense quarter-final. The Liverpool forward died in a car accident along with his brother, a few days before the team gathered for pre-season, and was an international teammate with the Al Hilal pair. Neves, who was also his club teammate at Wolves, considered Jota as one of his closest friends. The pair learned of Jota’s death that Thursday and played a match less than 24 hours later. Seeing Neves and Cancelo in tears while their photo, along with that of his brother André Silva, appeared on the giant screens of Camping World Stadium was heartbreaking. It was a reminder of how unimportant football can be.”
If You Were in Charge for a Day, What Would You Change for the Next Club World Cup?
Ogden: “I would have a smaller tournament, maybe 24 teams, and I would make sure that those involved are really the best from their Confederation. This Club World Cup has been held without the current champions of England (Liverpool), Spain (Barcelona), Italy (Naples) and Argentina (Vélez Sarsfield), while including Chelsea, who qualified as winners of the 2021 Champions League, and Salzburg, who, frankly, have done nothing outside the Austrian Bundesliga and are not even the current champions (hello, Sturm Graz). Balance it and find a way to have teams from South America that are not just from Brazil and Argentina. Ultimately, FIFA needs to come up with more compelling and equitable qualifying criteria.”Becherano: “Without a doubt, the starting times of most matches should be delayed until after sunset. FIFA’s decision to schedule a noon or 3 p.m. start at Hard Rock Stadium in the middle of summer will remain shocking. I understand the need to make soccer accessible to those who watch it in Europe or Asia, but not enough to consider risking a player’s well-being by ordering a match to be played under the scorching sun and Florida humidity. Unless the stadium has a roof, no match can or should be played before 7:30 p.m. local time. Beyond the obvious safety and health concerns, one could also argue that no one plays their best in those conditions in Miami. Players often have to conserve energy and reduce the pace to prioritize consistency and durability throughout the 90-minute matches. Coaches complained that players asked to be substituted due to heat exhaustion and cramps. How can officials expect the tournament to thrive if players are not given the proper conditions to play?”Dawson: “Having a completely open draw. FIFA decided to go straight to 32 teams, so it can’t go back and make it a 16-team competition (which it should have been in the first place). An open draw should, in theory, increase the likelihood of bigger matches in the group stage; the knockout matches were good, but it seemed like the tournament took a while to get going. Matching more heavyweights against each other from the start would get things going. You could also have a couple of incredibly difficult groups with some real risks before the round of 16.”Marcotti: “Expectations. Let’s be realistic: FIFA felt it needed to promise a mega cash prize for some of the European heavyweights to join, and because the competition was in its early stages, it became difficult to sell. FIFA had no idea what size stadiums to use, how to price (and sell) tickets, and struggled to sell broadcasting and sponsorship rights (hence we ended up with DAZN and last-resort commercial deals). Let this summer show you that you don’t need to be big from day one. Let the competition grow and, if it attracts enough eyes, the big clubs will want to be there, and so will the sponsors.”Olley: “Reducing it to 16 teams. Obviously, it will never happen now, money dictates it. If anything, they will try to expand it to 48 teams to match the new international format. But a tighter version would be easier to sell globally and fewer matches would demand less from players who are already overworked. Related to this, reducing the necessary travel and limiting logistical demands. There is always a balancing act in terms of taking teams around a country, the large scale of the United States doesn’t help in that regard, but the balance wasn’t right this time.”Kirkland: “It might be a very Anglocentric point, but I can’t help but feel that for the tournament to have true widespread appeal, FIFA must find a way to ensure that the biggest Premier League teams in terms of support and online engagement, such as Manchester United, or Liverpool, or Arsenal, are involved. It also hurt the credibility of the competition that some of the best teams in the world in their current form, Liverpool again, or Barcelona, or Napoli, were not included, even if the qualifying criteria and logistics made it impossible. It would be no surprise if FIFA somehow found a way to remedy both challenges in time for 2029.”
