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For decades, the FIFA Club World Cup has held significant prestige across much of the football world. Supporters in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia have embraced the tournament because it gives their national teams an opportunity to compete for a global title. In the United States, however, domestic events such as the Super Bowl, NBA Finals and World Series traditionally dominated the sports conversation.
Interest in the FIFA Club World Cup and soccer tournaments has grown rapidly in North America in recent years, largely because FIFA expanded the tournament to 32 teams in 2025 and because the United States, Canada and Mexico are hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As the competition continues to evolve, many fans wonder whether the expanded Club World Cup deserves a place on an already crowded football calendar. Your answer may depend on what you value most as a sports fan.
Why FIFA Continues to Invest in the Tournament
FIFA wants to create a truly global club competition that showcases elite teams from every confederation. The organization believes the Club World Cup can elevate clubs from outside Europe and provide supporters with international matchups that rarely occur elsewhere.
The expanded 2025 edition reflected that ambition. Thirty-two clubs from around the world competed in a format that resembled the men’s FIFA World Cup. FIFA reported that around 2.7 billion fans watched the tournament’s opening across various media, demonstrating strong worldwide interest and significant commercial potential.
FIFA also sees the tournament as a way to accelerate football’s growth in emerging markets. Increased exposure can help clubs attract sponsorships, develop fan bases outside their home countries and create new commercial opportunities.
Rising MLS standards and stronger performances by North American clubs have helped fuel greater interest among U.S. fans in international competitions. Los Angeles F.C, for example, is valued at $1.5 billion, making it one of the richest groups in the Major Soccer League.
Global Matchups Create Genuine Appeal
The FIFA World Cup generates extraordinary passion because national teams represent entire countries. Supporters rally behind their flags, cultures and identities, creating an emotional connection that few sporting events can match. For the 2026 edition, 48 teams are participating, which makes global excitement even higher. The FIFA Club World Cup tournament operates differently, yet it offers its own distinctive appeal.
The Club World Cup offers something few other competitions can match. The tournament brings together champions and elite clubs from every region, creating contests that fans rarely see. These encounters expose you to different tactical philosophies, fan cultures and emerging talent.
The 2025 competition demonstrated this diversity as clubs from multiple confederations advanced to the knockout rounds and showcased the growing strength of football outside Europe’s top leagues. Recent tournaments have already produced memorable stories.
With the important participation of Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best wingers in football history, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal reached the 2022 final against Real Madrid and Fluminense reached the 2023 final after winning the Copa Libertadores, bringing one of Brazil’s most passionate fan bases to the global stage. Performances like these remind supporters that elite football extends far beyond Europe’s traditional giants.
Fans Around the World Continue to Tune In
The Club World Cup may still trail the UEFA Champions League and the men’s FIFA World Cup in overall prestige. Even so, football’s global reach remains unmatched by most sporting events. FIFA estimated that 5 billion people engaged with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar across television, digital platforms and social media, while the final alone attracted an average live audience of 1.42 billion viewers.
By comparison, the NFL reported that Super Bowl LVIII averaged 123.4 million viewers across all platforms, making it the most-watched telecast in U.S. history, but still far behind the worldwide audience generated by football’s biggest events.
Similarly, the International Olympic Committee reported that more than 3 billion people followed the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games across broadcast and digital platforms. These comparisons help explain why FIFA believes an expanded Club World Cup can continue to grow and attract fans across every continent.
Soccer is a recreational sport for all ages, which is why its popularity extends from elite professional competitions to recreational leagues, where millions of adults continue playing the sport throughout their lives, further reinforcing its worldwide appeal.
As more North American fans embrace international club football, future editions could attract even larger audiences and further strengthen the tournament’s place in the global sports landscape.
Financial Rewards Shape the Competition
Financial considerations play a central role in the Club World Cup’s expansion. For clubs outside Europe’s wealthiest leagues, tournament revenue can support academy programs, infrastructure projects and long-term development initiatives. After Chelsea won £84 million from the first 32-team tournament, other major European clubs began pressuring FIFA to expand the tournament, giving them a better chance to qualify.
A deep run in the competition can generate resources that may influence a club for years. Additional income may fund training facilities, youth scouting networks or stadium improvements. The financial impact varies significantly across regions. For an elite European club, Club World Cup prize money often supplements already substantial revenue from domestic leagues and the UEFA Champions League.
For clubs from South America, Africa or Asia, however, the same earnings may represent a transformative investment opportunity. Strong performances on the world stage may also attract sponsors, expand merchandise sales and increase international visibility. Football leaders continue to debate how additional revenue may influence competitive balance across the sport.
How You Can Get the Most From the Tournament
Your enjoyment of the Club World Cup often depends on how you approach it. If your favorite club qualifies, the competition can become one of the defining moments in your club’s history. As a neutral supporter, focus on the stories that unfold throughout the tournament.
Follow emerging players, underdog clubs and contrasting tactical approaches. Explore the histories of clubs from regions you may not watch regularly. Doing so will help you appreciate the competition’s broader significance and enrich your experience as a football fan.
You can also use the tournament to expand your football knowledge. Watching clubs from South America, Africa and Asia exposes you to different styles of play and tactical traditions. Over time, that broader perspective can deepen your understanding of the global game.
Should You Watch the FIFA Club World Cup?
If you enjoy football as a global game, the Club World Cup offers tremendous value. The competition introduces you to clubs, players and styles of play that rarely share the same stage.
Approach the tournament as a celebration of worldwide club football rather than a direct comparison with established competitions. Doing so allows you to enjoy fresh matchups, compelling storylines and memorable moments that enrich your experience as a fan.
A Tournament With Growing Influence
Big audience numbers, broad international representation and increased commercial investment suggest that the competition fills an important role in the sport. Future editions will further shape the tournament’s legacy. For now, the Club World Cup offers football fans a unique opportunity to experience the game’s global reach and celebrate competition across continents.
