FIFA Club World Cup 2025

[Monoethnic Social Club]

An addendum to the draw can be which club can use Messi as their super-sub

Never thought Id live to see the day that Ronaldo was the player with the most integrity..... Ill eat humble pie, well done Christiano ...of course it helps that your wallet needs a Dodge Ram to drive around behind you incase you need any spare cash...

Cristiano Ronaldo's brutal five-word message message to Club World Cup side revealed after Al-Nassr star snubbed chance to make shock transfer | Goal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo had a brutal response after a Club World Cup side contacted him over a potential transfer.

www.goal.com

 

[grazorblade]

My opposition is the format (size) and the timing (how often, and it's place in the calendar at the moment)

Perfect format for me was the original version (2 groups of 4, featuring the reigning Confederation champions, plus the host nation's league winner, and possibly the UEFA Champions League runners up?)

The format and size is the reason why it has a chance of getting more prestige

The last format was micky mouse this format has a real chance to become the most prestigious format out there

In a way bayern winning 10 nil against auckland is sign of bayern taking it more seriously. Auckland hold their own in the past format

 

[NicCarBel]

My opposition is the format (size) and the timing (how often, and it's place in the calendar at the moment)

Perfect format for me was the original version (2 groups of 4, featuring the reigning Confederation champions, plus the host nation's league winner, and possibly the UEFA Champions League runners up?)

Actually, even the cancelled 2001 format isn't too bad, and is more equal (but still leaves Oceania with one spot since it's weak).

3 groups 4, with each confederation's two trophy winners qualifying. So.. let's say there was one right now/December, it would be:

1. Inter Miami (USA League Winners - Host)
2. Paris Saint Germain (UEFA Champions League)
3. Tottenham Hotspur (UEFA Europa League)
4. Pyramids (CAF African Champions League)
5. RS Berkane (CAF Confederation Cup)
6. Al Ahli (AFC Asian Champions League Elite)
7. Sharjah (AFC Champions League Two)
8. Cruz Azul (CONCACAF Champions Cup)
9. Vancouver Whitecaps (CONCACAF Champions Cup runners up - no secondary competition)
10. Botafogo (CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores)
11. Racing Club de Avellaneda (CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana)
12. Auckland City (OFC Champions League)

 

[NicCarBel]

The format and size is the reason why it has a chance of getting more prestige

The last format was micky mouse this format has a real chance to become the most prestigious format out there

In a way bayern winning 10 nil against auckland is sign of bayern taking it more seriously. Auckland hold their own in the past format

Issue I have with it being every 4 years - is club football and how players are signed/used is inherently different to international/representative football. That's probably my main gripe.

 

[grazorblade]

Issue I have with it being every 4 years - is club football and how players are signed/used is inherently different to international/representative football. That's probably my main gripe.

for me that's a feature not a bug since it means top clubs outside europe have a real shot at attracting talent. It starts to break the monopoly of elite european football

I hope that it becomes every 2 years rather than every four, but hard enough to get the extended format happening every four at this stage

 

[grazorblade]

Actually, even the cancelled 2001 format isn't too bad, and is more equal (but still leaves Oceania with one spot since it's weak).

3 groups 4, with each confederation's two trophy winners qualifying. So.. let's say there was one right now/December, it would be:

1. Inter Miami (USA League Winners - Host)
2. Paris Saint Germain (UEFA Champions League)
3. Tottenham Hotspur (UEFA Europa League)
4. Pyramids (CAF African Champions League)
5. RS Berkane (CAF Confederation Cup)
6. Al Ahli (AFC Asian Champions League Elite)
7. Sharjah (AFC Champions League Two)
8. Cruz Azul (CONCACAF Champions Cup)
9. Vancouver Whitecaps (CONCACAF Champions Cup runners up - no secondary competition)
10. Botafogo (CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores)
11. Racing Club de Avellaneda (CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana)
12. Auckland City (OFC Champions League)

12 is still a mickey mouse tournament

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

for me that's a feature not a bug since it means top clubs outside europe have a real shot at attracting talent. It starts to break the monopoly of elite european football

I hope that it becomes every 2 years rather than every four, but hard enough to get the extended format happening every four at this stage

If its going to market itself as the best of the best, then it needs to be every year but ONLY the two trophy winners from each confed....

 

[grazorblade]

If its going to market itself as the best of the best, then it needs to be every year but ONLY the two trophy winners from each confed....

Why? No one cared about that format

 

[HappyGuus]

Maybe NOT other sports, but APL certainly doesnt want their fans following other Australian football ... they wouldnt be so openly hostile to it otherwise.

Sorry I haven't been following these earlier conversations haha. What's this about the APL being hostile to other sports? I've genuinely never heard of that.

I'm across this happy guus I'm reading the book Eli mentioned. But as I mentioned I still can't not follow my team

I'm the same mate. Been following my AFL team for decades and that won't change, but the AFL itself is a tyrannical monster and I wish them every failure for the pain they inflict on others

 

[melbcityguy]

Sorry I haven't been following these earlier conversations haha. What's this about the APL being hostile to other sports? I've genuinely never heard of that.


I'm the same mate. Been following my AFL team for decades and that won't change, but the AFL itself is a tyrannical monster and I wish them every failure for the pain they inflict on others

I think it's normal to supply your team but kind of laugh when things don't go there way like the Hobart debacle

 

[grazorblade]

Sorry I haven't been following these earlier conversations haha. What's this about the APL being hostile to other sports? I've genuinely never heard of that.


I'm the same mate. Been following my AFL team for decades and that won't change, but the AFL itself is a tyrannical monster and I wish them every failure for the pain they inflict on others

Ive watched all 4 season Lions made the grand final and the last grand final we won

I fell asleep during the last grand final....I just can't get into the sport to be honest despite years of trying due to so many claiming its the best sport ever

 

[NicCarBel]

for me that's a feature not a bug since it means top clubs outside europe have a real shot at attracting talent. It starts to break the monopoly of elite european football

I hope that it becomes every 2 years rather than every four, but hard enough to get the extended format happening every four at this stage

Two years I think I'd be ok with. But needs the International Calendar to make it work. Perfect world (again) for me (using 2026-2030 as the template)

2026 - World Cup
2027 - Club World Cup
2028 - Continental Cups (Euros, Copa, etc) but ALL OF THEM - outliers for December/January tournaments probably
2029 - Club World Cup
2030 - World Cup

rinse, repeat

If we keep the trophy winners method I came up with before (but also only one Oceania club), would bring a total of 22 clubs - I think then an extra spot to UEFA and CONMEBOL each for the highest ranked non-winning club would do (the way they worked out a lot of the positions this time around) - and then the format the same as Euros/Asian Cup (6 groups of 4)

 

[grazorblade]

Two years I think I'd be ok with. But needs the International Calendar to make it work. Perfect world (again) for me (using 2026-2030 as the template)

2026 - World Cup
2027 - Club World Cup
2028 - Continental Cups (Euros, Copa, etc) but ALL OF THEM - outliers for December/January tournaments probably
2029 - Club World Cup
2030 - World Cup

rinse, repeat

If we keep the trophy winners method I came up with before (but also only one Oceania club), would bring a total of 22 clubs - I think then an extra spot to UEFA and CONMEBOL each for the highest ranked non-winning club would do (the way they worked out a lot of the positions this time around) - and then the format the same as Euros/Asian Cup (6 groups of 4)

22 is better but I'd like to see it expand to 64 clubs haha
gives better access but I don't think it dilutes the quality much. Pay the participation compensation a year in advance so they can recruit for the tournament

 

[NicCarBel]

22 is better but I'd like to see it expand to 64 clubs haha
gives better access but I don't think it dilutes the quality much. Pay the participation compensation a year in advance so they can recruit for the tournament

Way way too much overkill with 64.

For references - the 24 team list of clubs would be:

1. Inter Miami (USA League Winners - Host)
2. Paris Saint Germain (2024-25 UEFA Champions League)
3. Tottenham Hotspur (2024-25 UEFA Europa League)
4. Pyramids (2024-25 CAF African Champions League)
5. RS Berkane (2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup)
6. Al Ahli (2024-25 AFC Asian Champions League Elite)
7. Sharjah (2024-25 AFC Champions League Two)
8. Cruz Azul (2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup)
9. Vancouver Whitecaps (2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup runners up - no secondary competition)
10. Botafogo (2024 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores)
11. Racing Club de Avellaneda (2024 CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana)
12. Auckland City (OFC highest ranked winner)
13. Real Madrid (2023-24 UEFA Champions League)
14. Atalanta (2023-24 UEFA Europa League)
15. Al Ahly (2023-24 CAF African Champions League)
16. Zamalek (2024-24 CAF Confederation Cup)
17. Pachuca (2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup)
18. Columbus Crew (2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup runners up - no secondary competition)
19. Fluminense (2023 Copa Libertadores)
20. LDU Quito (2023 Copa Sudamericana)
21. Al Ain (2023-24 AFC Asian Champions League)
22. Central Coast Mariners (2023-24 AFC Cup)
23. River Plate (Best ranked eligible team in the CONMEBOL four-year ranking)
24. Bayern Munich (Best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking)

 

[HappyGuus]

Ive watched all 4 season Lions made the grand final and the last grand final we won

I fell asleep during the last grand final....I just can't get into the sport to be honest despite years of trying due to so many claiming its the best sport ever

Funnily enough that's kinda when I think the actual sport started to go downhill quickly, just after the Lions early 2000s era. Then it was exacerbated with the Gold Coast and GWS coming in and all the handouts and compromised drafts etc. And then it's all the shit they've done to soccer over the years. As Eli say, just leave us alone! Simon Hill back in England posting about the lack of code wars there, just an AFL/NRL thing.

I can't remember the last GF I watched. Maybe the one where the Bulldogs threw the ball all the way to a premiership.

 

[Barca4life]

Im baffled at the opposition to the club world cup

If the club world cup takes off and becomes the highest level of football available then every country in the world gets access to elite football

Here is one possible consequence: if Brazil can start keeping there best players domestically, europe stops shaping the way elite brazillians play and coaching the flair out of them to male them conform to european systems football. We could see the return of jogo bonito rather than everyone playing the european way

This is a great point, I feel the way the football has gone the identity of certain countries has changed and almost certainly lost like Brazil who were known for developing some of the best technically gifted players with natural flair in the world and now they have exporting players which would suit the pace and power of the European game.

The European game has evolved and has not only changed the way the game gets played around the world but also how it gets watched and scouted by scouts, I think the aim of this tournament is for the rest of the world to close the gap to Europe’s best elite but unfortunately it’s going to take a long time.

But overall it’s the step in the right direction it just needs to implemented better in the football calendar.

 

[melbcityguy]

I didn't realize the gold cup started

Plenty of goals today

 

[LFC]

I didn't realize the gold cup started

Plenty of goals today

Well your not on the round ball game enough wasting time on eggs hahaha

 

[grazorblade]

This is a great point, I feel the way the football has gone the identity of certain countries has changed and almost certainly lost like Brazil who were known for developing some of the best technically gifted players with natural flair in the world and now they have exporting players which would suit the pace and power of the European game.

The European game has evolved and has not only changed the way the game gets played around the world but also how it gets watched and scouted by scouts, I think the aim of this tournament is for the rest of the world to close the gap to Europe’s best elite but unfortunately it’s going to take a long time.

But overall it’s the step in the right direction it just needs to implemented better in the football calendar.

The challenge is to make the tournament big enough, in terms of how many clubs participate, to be a genuine rival to the champions league while keeping it prestigious and maximizing access

one thing they really need to do is to make qualifying dramatic, much like it is for the world cup. Maybe one way to do it is to have a massive repocharge system and then 32 in the final tournament

Maybe something like this:

Automatic qualification 22 teams:

Uefa 9: 5 by league position 2 by champions league
South America: 2 by league position 2 by champions league
OFC 1 by league position
AFC 1 by league position 2 by champions league
CAF 1 by league position 2 by champions league
Concacaf 1 by league position 2 by champions league
Hosts: 1 by league position

Repocharge: 40 teams in groups of 5 where the top qualifies
Uefa 2 by europa league, then 10 by league position (leagues ranked 5 to 15)
south america: 2 by their equivalent to europa 5 by league
Afc: 2 by acl2 6 by league
Concacaf: 2 by their europa 3 by league
Caf: 2 by their europa and 6 by league

 

[NicCarBel]

The challenge is to make the tournament big enough, in terms of how many clubs participate, to be a genuine rival to the champions league while keeping it prestigious and maximizing access

one thing they really need to do is to make qualifying dramatic, much like it is for the world cup. Maybe one way to do it is to have a massive repocharge system and then 32 in the final tournament

Maybe something like this:

Automatic qualification 22 teams:

Uefa 9: 5 by league position 2 by champions league
South America: 2 by league position 2 by champions league
OFC 1 by league position
AFC 1 by league position 2 by champions league
CAF 1 by league position 2 by champions league
Concacaf 1 by league position 2 by champions league
Hosts: 1 by league position

Repocharge: 40 teams in groups of 5 where the top qualifies
Uefa 2 by europa league, then 10 by league position (leagues ranked 5 to 15)
south america: 2 by their equivalent to europa 5 by league
Afc: 2 by acl2 6 by league
Concacaf: 2 by their europa 3 by league
Caf: 2 by their europa and 6 by league

Adding too many games there by having extra qualifiers/repechage (unless of course you're just talking about ranking the clubs based off the existing Europa League/Champions League results -eg for UEFA- as they did for this edition?)