The FIFA Club World Cup is back, but this time it’s very different. It’s being held during the summer for the first time ever—and it’s the first time 32 teams are playing in the competition.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is the one pushing this new format, but not everyone is excited about it. Players and fans around the world haven’t shown much interest so far.
Ticket sales have been poor. In fact, reports say up to 45,000 seats might be empty when Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, face Al Ahly in the opening match this Saturday.
FIFA also struggled to sell the TV rights for the tournament. Eventually, streaming service DAZN bought the rights for $1 billion. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund invested in DAZN not long after, hinting that there’s more going on behind the scenes than just football.
Despite all that, some are still excited—especially Victor Mbidi, a multimedia journalist living in Washington, D.C. He told the Daily Post he’s thrilled that the tournament is taking place in the US. According to him, it shows how much the MLS has grown in global importance.
Mbidi pointed out that football legends like David Beckham and Thierry Henry helped raise the MLS profile when they joined LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls. Now, Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami has boosted interest even more. This Club World Cup could further grow soccer’s popularity in America, especially before the US co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, some concerns remain. Seattle Sounders, one of the clubs in the tournament, protested the competition’s poor player payment system by wearing shirts that read “Club World Cash Grab.” Another issue is the heavy presence of European clubs—12 of them—causing complaints from other continents.
Even so, Mbidi believes this kind of tournament is long overdue. Some of the world’s biggest teams are taking part—Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, to name a few.
When it comes to fan support in the US, Mbidi says the top European clubs will naturally have strong followings. But he also believes Messi’s Inter Miami already has a huge fanbase, just like clubs in Europe such as PSG and Real Madrid.
He also believes African and Latino fans will show strong support for teams from their regions. Leading the African charge is Egypt’s Al Ahly. They’ve won the CAF Champions League 12 times and are often called Africa’s most successful club.
Joining them are Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, who earned a spot through CAF rankings, and Botola Pro from Morocco, who qualified by winning the 2021-22 CAF Champions League. These teams face tough games, especially Botola Pro, who must play both Manchester City and Juventus within just four days.
Still, Mbidi is hopeful. He dreams of seeing an African team lift the trophy at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13—against all odds.
