South America's giants are signing big name players, throwing massive parties for the Club World Cup, as tournament offers large financial reward
The Club World Cup is coming to the United States, whether fans in United States are ready or not. Governing body FIFA has worked to entice local fans with the promise of European clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich showing up on American shores to play competitive matches.
But don’t discount the presence of teams from the Americas as a factor that could put more fans in seats and move more tickets.
Getty Images SportSouth America largely enthusiastic about CWC
The Latin American soccer world generally has a distinct view of the Club World Cup than those big European teams, who – while utilized as the big worm on the end of the hook in marketing materials – have generally made clear they’d rather be elsewhere during the summer.
Brazilian teams, in particular, are known in the region for taking the Club World Cup seriously. Fans have traveled in force to past editions, with the first three winners of the competition from Brazil – though since then Corinthians have been the only non-European champion.
"I think we are at the level of many European teams. We will not go into the tournament if we don't want to kick someone's ass," Botofogo's colorful American owner John Textor told Brazilian press Thursday. "We will try."
Palmieras, too, is using the tournament as motivation to get better as they prepare for a group including Inter Miami, Porto, and Al Ahly with president Leila Pereira telling local media outlets she wants to bring in four top players to strengthen the squad in 2025. In addition, thousands of fans traveled to see the São Paulo team secure that title in Japan, and Brazilian fan groups regularly have been the best represented at the editions of the tournament that took place before 2025's expansion.
It isn't just Brazil that takes the Club World Cup seriously. Argentine super clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors getting into the tournament was a reason for celebration in their home county. While they made it in thanks to the somewhat opaque "CONMEBOL four-year ranking" fans didn’t care.
Uruguayan club Nacional’s defeat in the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 this year secured Boca’s spot and set off a party at the Bombonera. After all, the Copa Libertadores may be the most stark reminder that a club’s economic budget will have a big influence on its future results, and the balance of power has clearly shifted to Brazil – home of the last six Copa Libertadores winners.
The economic infusion that could come from taking part in FIFA’s new showcase not only may keep those two clubs on top of their rivals in Argentina but, they hope, also give them a chance at competing with clubs from neighboring Brazil. FIFA has not announced any prize distributions yet, but reported estimates range from $20-50 million.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMexico's tepid interest and potential controversy
In Mexico, the Club World Cup is often looked at with a shrug. Coming on the heels of the Liguilla, the playoffs to close out the regular season, the consensus is often that the strongest Mexican team is enjoying title celebrations or the holidays rather than taking part in the tournament. That may change with the tournament now taking place much closer to home and in a market where millions of fans of Liga MX clubs reside.
But this year the headlines have been dominated by a local issue going international. Despite efforts to end the practice of one ownership group controlling multiple clubs in Liga MX, there are still three groups that have two teams.
Remarkably, the teams owned by Grupo Pachuca – Pachuca and León – won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in back-to-back years and qualified for the tournament. That runs afoul of the Club World Cup regulations published by FIFA earlier this year, which in Article 10 says it prohibits multi-club ownership.
Grupo Pachuca chair Jesus Martinez said Thursday that the group is open to selling León if the right offer comes in order to keep both teams in the competition and allow what happened on the field in the CONCACAF Champions Cup to be preserved.
AFPCentral American lawsuit?
Yet, recently crowned Central American champion Liga Deportiva Alajuelense previously filed a complaint with FIFA asking that they be given one of the spots. They put out a statement Thursday once again
“We call FIFA to guarantee transparency and the correct application of its rules, protecting the integrity of sporting competitions,” it read in part. “We’re confident FIFA will respect its regulations and award us the space we have the rights to as back-to-back champions of Central America and the best team in the region.”
Clearly getting into the Club World Cup would be a huge prize for the Costa Rican club, but don’t discount another powerful motivator behind Liga’s push for inclusion: Rivalry. Costa Rica has three huge teams that dominate the league. In the 119 times the tournament has been contested, only 20 times was it not won by Alajuelense, Saprissa or Herediano. Saprissa is the most successful team historically, not only winning 40 league crowns but also earning third place at the 2005 Club World Cup.
That remained the best finish for a CONCACAF team until Tigres’ runner-up finish in the 2020 edition, something it has long boasted about – though during those heady times for Costa Rican soccer Alajuelense also
Yet, it remains unlikely that Alajuelense would be the replacement. Back-to-back Liga MX champion Club América is sitting higher in the CONCACAF rankings and a much more attractive team for FIFA economically thanks to their massive fan base in the U.S. and Mexico. And that's important considering concerns about attendance and the fact FIFA struggled to get a broadcast partner.
Getty Images SportAttendance and pride
There are valid questions about whether fans will show up to the Club World Cup matches, especially after the draw reminded us what some of the matchups on offer will be. Will Porto vs. Al Ahly or Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City really cut through the noise in a crowded sporting calendar?
Likely no, but in much of Latin America fans will watch with interest to see how their teams stack up against the best. And, they hope, making this tournament will make enough of a difference in their financial fortunes that they can dominate locally and find a berth in future editions of the Club World Cup as well.
