This June, the United States is hosting something huge, the first FIFA Club World Cup. It will be held in major cities across the US, like Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Dallas. This is the biggest version of the Club World Cup ever, transforming what used to be a small event into a major tournament that many consider a warmup for next year’s World Cup. The system stayed the same as for any other FIFA Cup with eight groups of four teams, and the top two from each group will move on to the knockout rounds.
What really got the fans excited was the list of teams taking part in the Club World Cup, big names like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Paris Saint Germain, and Boca Juniors. For the next month, fans will be able to enjoy top tier soccer with the most famous names in the sport today, like Lionel Messi who has been playing for the American team Inter Miami for the past couple of years after transferring from PSG. With so many players who are famous beyond their careers in soccer it will be a pure adrenalin rush from the get go.
A Tournament Shaped by Money
While the fans cheer from the stands, players might have something else besides the play on their minds. This year was riddled with controversy about the prize money, which is bigger than ever before- $1 billion. However, most of the money will be going to the clubs, not the players which upset a lot of athletes, especially in Major League Soccer where there’s a cap on salaries and bonuses and is highly unlikely that any players will see much of that money. Athletes have been complaining about the rules in American soccer and the limitation of $5.5 million in salaries, being that they are the ones who bring fans to the stadiums and are the driving force behind such huge profits.
“Cash Grab” Protests & Player Welfare
Some soccer players in the US, like the ones from Seattle Sounders, started speaking out about the unjust approach to some of the biggest names in the sport by wearing shirts that say “Club World Cup Cash Grab”. They’ve pointed out that while their clubs will earn millions, the players doing the hard work on the field are barely seeing a fair share. This sparked the conversation about the fairness of the rules and players’ pay that have been significantly lower than any other athletes in other popular sports like the NFL or NBA.
While the debate continues, some fans have pointed out how other industries, like online gaming, are rewarding their users. For instance, online platforms have started offering more prizes to their players, like crypto casino bonuses, that give players more value for their effort. It’s the kind of approach that fans are hoping MLS could learn from, like making sure that prizes don’t just stay at the top, but are equally spread among players who make the game what it is. Hardcore soccer fans are hoping that MLS will take notes and remove the cap from players’ salaries before all the big names decide to give up the fight and leave American teams.
Meanwhile, protests are still ongoing with MLS taking notice by offering 20% of performance based payouts starting at $200k which is only a small portion of profits. So, the negotiations remain stuck, with neither side willing to back down on their conditions.
Another issue is that this time we will have eight groups and 63 matches in one month. This is an extraordinary number of plays that can lead to burnout and injuries. FIFPRO and league groups have urged FIFA to revisit scheduling and welfare concerns, but so far there was no response.
Venue & Logistics Hurdles
Club WC is serving as a rehearsal for the massive World Cup that is about to take place in the summer of 2026. Stadiums have gone through some changes, with new grass and renovations of the seating, but the fans remain mostly passive and indifferent. Ticket prices have been fluctuating, depending on which teams play but in general, there wasn’t much interest around this $1 billion event.
There are also concerns about international fans not being able to enter the US due to bans, visa delays and strict US immigration policy. Mixed messaging on stadium safety and fan experience also looms large.
Odds & Expectations
Playing at home across 11 U.S. venues offers a true edge: no travel fatigue, and domestic, passionate crowds. This doesn’t always end up as an advantage, but it can serve as additional motivation for the players.
Betting markets place the U.S. around +3500 to +3300 odds, ranking it around 8th-12th favorite. The best chance is given to Spain, +500 / +600, France, +600 / +650, and Brazil, +650.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. brings star power and global attention but with its fair share of problems and controversies. Even though the excitement builds up towards the 2026 World Cup, MLS players remain frustrated by league rules that limit their earnings from big tournaments hoping that the push from big names in soccer could change how the sport is run in the US.
