FIFA Club World Cup: The Land of Opportunity

Despite early doubts, the FIFA Club World Cup has gone ahead as planned and quickly gained traction across the football world in its opening week.

Hosted in 11 cities in the United States as a preview for next year’s main event, the 2026 World Cup, the tournament offers a huge opportunity for clubs to make history by claiming the title of the first ever world champion under this new format.

The reformed structure brings together 32 of the best teams from every corner of the globe, including reigning champions and top performers from continental competitions over the past four years.

In the past, the Club World Cup was a single match between the Champions League and Copa Libertadores winners, the #1 side from Europe and South America, traditionally the two strongest confederations. It later evolved into a mini tournament with seven teams. Now the spotlight expands to 32 teams, the same number as the World Cup itself.

¡Let The Ball Roll!

From June 14 to July 13, the eyes of the football world are on American soil. It was none other than Inter Miami that kicked off the tournament. The Herons, led by the one and only Lionel Messi, hosted the multi-time champions Al-Ahly from Egypt.

Despite the goalless draw, the match proved highly entertaining, with each side dominating a half and both goalkeepers shining to keep clean sheets. The Argentine GOAT had his chances — striking the post once and forcing a late long-range effort that rattled the crossbar.

Lionel Messi battles for possession with Marwan Attia during the tournament’s opening match. (Getty Images Sport via GOAL.com)

Round 1: A Strong Start

Bayern and Juventus made their intentions clear with emphatic 10-0 and 5-0 victories over Auckland City and Al-Ain respectively. The difference in quality between the sides was obvious on the pitch. 

Current Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain also impressed, thrashing the always competitive Atlético Madrid 4-0. The French giants continue to show why they are the best team in the world, having dominated Inter 5-0 in the final to claim their first-ever European trophy less than a month ago.

Inter, meanwhile, struggled in their opening match as Monterrey held them to a 1-1 draw. The goal for the Mexican side came from the timeless Spanish defender Sergio Ramos, with his classic bullet header.

“Happy with the point but maybe we lacked personality, calmness on the ball, and build-up from the start. Now we have to recover well and think about the next match,” Ramos said after the game.

Al-Hilal surprised many by holding the mighty Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw, with Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou coming up clutch by saving a last-minute penalty from Federico Valverde. Mamelodi Sundowns caught everyone off guard with a strong and delightful performance, edging Ulsan 1-0.

Chelsea defeated Los Angeles FC 2-0 with a goal in each half, while fellow Premier League side Manchester City secured an identical result against Wydad. In an eventful match — halted by adverse weather conditions — RB Salzburg beat Pachuca 2-1.

South American Sides Make Their Presence Felt

The first three matches mentioned above were the only ones with a clear gap in the final score. The rest were tight, entertaining battles — even the goalless draw between FC Porto and Palmeiras.

Fittingly, O Verdão were the first South American team to appear in the tournament. They went head-to-head with Portuguese giants Porto and were unlucky not to win, thanks to a brilliant display by goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos, who deservedly earned the Superior Player of the Match award.

Fluminense managed to dominate Borussia Dortmund, with their Colombian winger Jhon Arias creating havoc in several sequences of the game. They may feel the goalless draw fell short of what they deserved, with Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel producing a heroic double save.

Botafogo edged Seattle Sounders 2-1, while Flamengo comfortably dispatched Esperance 2-0. Two wins for the Brazilian sides, who remain unbeaten across four matches — strong performances that underline the quality of the Brasileirão.

Their Argentine counterparts also delivered. As expected, giants River Plate and Boca Juniors did not disappoint. Los Millonarios showed control and composure to defeat Japan’s Urawa Reds 3-1, while Los Xeneizes were left frustrated after a 2-2 draw with Benfica. Boca had gone 2-0 up, but goals from Di María and Otamendi — both Argentines, coincidentally — sealed the final result.

River Plate players celebrate the 1-0  goal courtesy of Facundo Colidio. (River Plater X account)

These results show that CONMEBOL sides are stronger than ever. Despite external challenges, the region’s endless production of talent ensures South American football remains fiercely competitive.

Not to Miss Out

Round 2 is approaching fast and will decide the fate of many teams. The standout clash sees Paris Saint-Germain facing Botafogo — champions of the two strongest confederations — in a matchup that recalls the spirit of the former Intercontinental Cup. Chelsea vs Flamengo and Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors offer similarly historic appeal.

Giants Inter and Real Madrid will also look to return to winning ways against Urawa Reds and Pachuca, respectively. 

If you haven’t tuned in to the Club World Cup yet, now is the time — these matches promise plenty of drama and excitement.