Sport
After years of preparation, the expanded Club World Cup will begin on Saturday. Initially planned for 2021, this 32-team tournament has become a key feature of Gianni Infantino’s time as FIFA president. This summer, many of the top teams will compete to showcase they are the world’s best.
The Champions League already serves this purpose realistically, having done so for generations. The best players are in Europe, making the European champions the top team globally. This raises questions about the need for an expanded Club World Cup.
Nevertheless, Europe’s elite clubs must approach this summer’s tournament seriously. The financial rewards are substantial and could significantly impact the financial status of every participating team. It could even transform the wealthiest clubs.
This summer in the USA, a prize fund of £1 billion awaits the 32 teams. The winners will receive £97 million for playing just six matches. By comparison, winning the Premier League title was worth £175 million last season. No other competition in world football is as lucrative per match as the new Club World Cup.
In the era of PSR and FFP, this money would benefit any club. Real Madrid has invested about £20 million in early signings and managerial changes, betting on a return nearly five times that amount. Florentino Perez is well aware of the stakes.
This urgency explains why many clubs are rushing to finalize transfers before the tournament begins – like Real Madrid paying Liverpool £10 million to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold 30 days before his contract ended. The Spanish giants have also acquired Dean Huijsen and changed managers, replacing Carlo Ancelotti with Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid isn’t alone in hastening their summer plans for the Club World Cup. Chelsea quickly signed Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for additional center forward options, while Manchester City is eager to secure Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijani Reijnders soon.
It’s not just European clubs either. Al-Hilal hired Simone Inzaghi as their new manager shortly after he led Inter Milan to the Champions League final, with the Saudi club also keen on signing a superstar player. They nearly secured Bruno Fernandes and are now targeting Victor Osimhen, among others.
The qualification process for the expanded Club World Cup was unclear (consider how Inter Miami were invited and Los Angeles FC qualified by winning a single-game playoff against Club America). There are also concerns about the tournament’s funding and its links to Saudi Arabia – the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) was announced as a sponsor last week.
In the early stages of the tournament, there will be notable mismatches. For example, Auckland City, a semi-professional team, will likely face tough matches against Bayern Munich, Benfica, and Boca Juniors. Even MLS teams, including Inter Miami with Lionel Messi, might struggle. Some scorelines could be embarrassing.
Despite this, each of the 32 teams has a clear incentive to perform well, even if players would prefer summer vacations. Modern football is heavily influenced by money, and this summer will be no exception as Europe’s biggest and best clubs compete for the largest share of the cash.
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- Source: SCCGManagement.com