Giants in South America are bringing in big-name players and hosting lavish parties for the Club World Cup because it gives a substantial financial incentive.
The United States will host the Club World Cup, regardless of whether American supporters are prepared. By promising that European teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich will visit the United States to play competitive matches, FIFA, the organization that oversees the sport, has attempted to attract local supporters.
However, don’t underestimate the possibility that teams from the Americas could increase attendance and ticket sales.
Most people in South America are excited about CWC.
Despite being used as the huge worm on the end of the hook in marketing materials, the Latin American soccer community generally has a different perspective on the Club World Cup than those large European teams, who have generally stated that they would like to be somewhere else in the summer.
In the region, Brazilian teams are renowned for their dedicated approach to the Club World Cup. Fans have traveled in force to prior editions, with the first three champions of the competition from Brazil – though since then Corinthians have been the only non-European champion.
“I believe we are on par with a lot of European clubs. “If we don’t want to kick someone’s ass, we won’t enter the tournament,” John Textor, the colorful American owner of Botofogo, told Brazilian media on Thursday. “We will try.”
As they get ready for a group that includes Inter Miami, Porto, and Al Ahly, Palmieras is also using the tournament as motivation to improve. According to local media sites, Palmieras president Leila Pereira aims to add four elite players to the team in 2025. Brazilian fan organizations have consistently had the best representation at tournaments held prior to 2025’s expansion, and thousands of fans traveled to watch the São Paulo club win that title in Japan.
Not just Brazil is a serious participant in the Club World Cup. Their native country celebrated the entry of Boca Juniors and River Plate, two Argentine great clubs, into the tournament. The somewhat ambiguous “CONMEBOL four-year ranking” allowed them to qualify, but the fans didn’t care.
This year’s Copa Libertadores Round of 16 loss to Uruguayan team Nacional guaranteed Boca’s place and ignited a celebration at the Bombonera. After all, the Copa Libertadores may serve as the clearest reminder that a club’s financial plan will significantly impact its future performance, and Brazil, the country that has produced the last six Copa Libertadores champions, has obviously gained the upper hand.
In addition to helping those two clubs stay ahead of their rivals in Argentina, the financial boost that could result from participating in FIFA’s new showcase should also give them an opportunity to compete against clubs from Brazil, which is nearby. Although prize distributions have not yet been confirmed by FIFA, predictions range from $20 to $50 million.
Mexico’s lack of enthusiasm and possible conflict
The Club World Cup is frequently dismissed in Mexico. It is commonly believed that the top Mexican club is celebrating their title or the holidays instead of competing in the competition, especially because the Liguilla, the playoffs that end the regular season, has just taken place.
However, a local problem that has gone global has dominated the news this year. Three groups still own two Liga MX clubs, despite efforts to stop the practice of one ownership group controlling several clubs.
It is noteworthy that Grupo Pachuca’s teams, Pachuca and León, qualified for the competition and won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in consecutive years. That violates FIFA’s Club World Cup rules, which were released earlier this year and state in Article 10 that multi-club ownership is forbidden.
In order to keep both teams in the competition and enable what transpired on the field in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Jesus Martinez, the chair of Grupo Pachuca, stated on Thursday that the organization is willing to sell León if the proper offer is made.
A lawsuit from Central America?
However, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, the newly crowned Central American champion, had earlier complained to FIFA, requesting a spot. On Thursday, they released a statement once more.
“We call FIFA to ensure openness and proper implementation of its regulations, safeguarding the integrity of athletic events,” it said in part. “As the top team in the region and the two-time Central American champions, we are sure FIFA will abide by its rules and grant us the space we are entitled to.”
Although the Costa Rican team would obviously benefit greatly from qualifying for the Club World Cup, rivalry is still a strong driving force behind Liga’s bid for admission. The competition is dominated by three formidable Costa Rican teams. Only 20 times in the tournament’s 119 contests did Alajuelense, Saprissa, or Herediano fail to win. In addition to collecting 40 league titles, Saprissa finished third in the 2005 Club World Cup, making them the most successful team in history.
Tigres has long boasted of having the best CONCACAF finish until their runner-up result in the 2020 tournament, but during those competitive days for Costa Rican soccer, Alajuelense also
Alajuelense is still not expected to be the substitute, though. Because of their enormous fan bases in the United States and Mexico, Club América, the Liga MX champions for two consecutive years, is higher in the CONCACAF rankings and a far more appealing team for FIFA commercially. And that’s crucial given worries about attendance and FIFA’s difficulties finding a broadcast partner.
Pride and attendance
Since the draw reminded us of some of the matchups available, there are legitimate concerns regarding whether or not fans will attend the Club World Cup matches. In a packed athletic calendar, would Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City or Porto vs. Al Ahly truly stand out?
Most likely not, but supporters in many parts of Latin America will be eager to see how their teams compare to the best. They also hope that this competition will have a significant enough impact on their financial situation to allow them to dominate domestically and secure a spot in subsequent Club World Cups.
