The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be remembered not just for its expanded format and dramatic moments, but for how it redefined global football among the clubs.
With 32 clubs from every continent vying for glory, the tournament delivered upsets, tactical masterclasses, and a glimpse into the sport’s increasingly level playing field. One of the biggest upsets of this edition of the competition will be Chelsea beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final to emerge as champions of the World.
Here are five key lessons from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
(1) Financial returns for participating teams
The FIFA Club World Cup was arranged as an avenue for the participants to make more money which they can use to run the day-to-day activities most especially the smaller clubs.
That cash is split into two parts, with $525m spread between the 32 participating teams.European teams get the biggest cut, with those clubs receiving between $12.8m and $38.1m depending on their ‘sporting and commercial criteria’.
The other $475m of the money is then split based on performance. At the Club World Cup, payouts are set for each stage of the tournament, with each group stage win leading to teams getting $2m and each draw handing out $1m.
Reaching the round of 16 then saw teams claim $7.5m, which is what Man City left with, alongside their group stage winnings. Teams that advance to the quarter-final will receive $13.125m to a team’s total prize collection, while a semi-final place will add a whopping $21m.
For reaching the Club World Cup final, teams receive $30m, with an extra $10m added on for the winner as they take home $40m.
(2) Accommodation for more teams:
The Club World Cup has usually been competed in by just eight teams in the past, but this new edition has created room for 24 more clubs, making it a total of 32 teams.
This means more football for fans to watch and also allows the smaller clubs to rub shoulders with some of the big clubs in the world most especially Europe.
(3) Showcase of talents:
This initiative would also allow the players to showcase their talents to a wider audience. Some of the players who end up being exceptional might get the attention the scouts who are available at the various clubs at the competition.
(4) Bragging rights of the winners:
The winners of the competition will be wearing the winners badge of the Club World Cup on their jersey for four years before the next edition which will be held in 2029.
(5) Squad depth:
There have been complaints from most of the stakeholders of the clubs that participated in the competition ranging from the number of games played and injuries to some of the key players.
However, the only way that this will reduce the stress on the team has to be squad depth. If there are more players in each squad then the pressure will not be on only a few players.
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