FIFA and UEFA agreed to expand the Club World Cup to 48 teams beginning in 2029, following negotiations that signaled a shift in the relationship between the two governing bodies. The agreement reflected both commercial interests and competitive considerations at the highest level of club soccer.

According to The Guardian, the consensus followed the commercial and sporting success of the inaugural 32-team tournament in 2025. European powerhouses pushed to secure their presence in the competition and opposed proposals that would have staged the event every two years.

UEFA had traditionally resisted expansion, concerned that a larger Club World Cup could diminish the prestige of the Champions League and overcrowd the international calendar. However, approving a 48-team format became a strategic concession, viewed as preferable to the alternative of a biennial tournament.

Tensions between the organizations peaked in May 2025, when European representatives walked out of a FIFA congress in Paraguay in protest. The climate later shifted, and the agreement on expansion also served as a gesture of reconciliation between UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who are now seeking greater institutional stability.

Clubs driving the pressure

UEFA’s policy change was partly driven by pressure from clubs such as Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool, who missed the 2025 edition due to participation limits per country and a four-year ranking system. Those restrictions excluded several historic institutions, affecting their global exposure and commercial projections.

The expansion will provide additional opportunities for those clubs, with the backing of the European Club Association playing a significant role. UEFA’s allocation is expected to increase from 12 spots in 2025 to 16 berths starting in 2029, strengthening European representation.

Likely structural changes

The tournament model is expected to mirror the World Cup for national teams, which also expands its format in 2026. A group stage featuring three or four clubs per group is anticipated, followed by knockout rounds, creating a demanding schedule and significant logistical challenges.

Negotiations over the precise distribution of berths among confederations remain ongoing. Current projections follow the World Cup model, with Europe expected to receive 16 spots, South America six, and other confederations seeing modest increases in representation.

Potential hosts for 2029

Spain and Morocco have emerged as early favorites to host the 2029 edition. The selection would serve as a prelude to the 2030 World Cup for national teams, where both countries are set to play central roles as hosts, further aligning FIFA’s long-term global strategy.

The NFL pays bonuses to the players, rather than the whole franchise itself. As set by the NFL collective bargaining agreement, the players from the Super Bowl winners will earn a $178,000 bonus. As for the losing team’s players, they will earn $103,000 to apeace their sporting grief. This represents a $7,000 increase from last year.

In contrast, the 2026 FIFA World Cup pays per team not per player, with the champion bagging a whopping $50 million and the runners-up a $33 million prize. Not all that money goes to the players though, as each team’s federation also keeps plenty of the money. Still, it’s presumed that players earn way more than what the Super Bowl winners collect, with estimations going from the $500 thousand to $1 million per player.

How much do the Club World Cup and UEFA Champions League pay?

According to Statista, the winners of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup winners received $40 million. The teams can earn other incentives based on performances. There were up to $85 million in cumulative bonuses as well.

The UEFA Champions League is regarded as one of the biggest club competitions in the world. However, the winner only bags $29.4 million. Still, this tournament also has incentives based on how far a team goes. This means that in the end, the winners earn way more than just the prize for winning the tournament.

Not every Super Bowl winner earns the full bonus though

To collect the $178,000 bonus players must:

• Played at least three previous games during the regular season or playoffs and be on the team’s active or inactive list when the Super Bowl is played.
• Played at least eight previous games (regular season or postseason), regardless of whether the player is on the active/inactive list or not.
• Be a veteran player who was injured during the regular season, but is still under contract with the team.

Players will get 50% of the bonus if:

• The player appeared in fewer than three previous games during the regular season or playoffs and is on the team’s active or inactive list when the Super Bowl is played.
• The player is not on the active/inactive list, but played between three and seven games during the regular season or playoffs.
• The player is a first-year player who was injured during the regular season, but are still under contract.

The evaluation period for the 2025 Ballon d’Or spans from August 2024 to July 2025, making the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 a pivotal stage for players to showcase their talent. Many expected Ousmane to use this stage to cement his lead in the race for the award. However, he played only four games and scored just two goals, allowing Desire Doue to emerge as a key player for PSG in his stead.

Furthermore, Fabrizio Romano referenced a L’Equipe poll conducted in March 2025, which showed Ousmane Dembele as the leading contender for the Ballon d’Or with 40.95% of the votes. Lamine was in third place with 8.8%, closely followed by Kylian Mbappe at 8%. However, a recent TNT Sports poll revealed significant shifts in these rankings, indicating a tighter race for the coveted award.

2025 Ballon d’Or race: Who is the reportedly leading favorite right now?

According to TNT Sports, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has become a pivotal event influencing the rankings for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. Ousmane Dembele has notably slipped to fourth place due to his minimal impact in the tournament. Furthermore, his underwhelming performance for France in the UEFA Nations League has considerably diminished his favoritism in the race for the prestigious award.

The rankings also feature a surprising turn with Cole Palmer climbing to third place. His outstanding contributions to Chelsea, culminating in triumphs at both the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and the UEFA Conference League, have bolstered his position. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe has slipped to tenth. Currently leading the pack is Lamine Yamal. At just 18, he finished the season with an impressive 18 goals and 21 assists, making him the favorite for the award.

2025 Ballon d’Or updated power ranking according to TNT Sports

Chelsea won the first edition of the revamped 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after beating PSG 3-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. However, despite their victory, the Blues don’t have their ticket for the next edition of the tournament in 2029 yet.

However, PSG are already qualified as they won the 2024-25 Champions League title, becoming the first European team to clinch its spot for the 2029 competition. The other three teams that have also qualified are: 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup winners Cruz Azul (Mexico), 2024–25 AFC Champions League champions Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) and 2024–25 CAF Champions League winners Pyramids FC (Egypt).

One more club will join them before the end of 2025—the winner of this year’s Copa Libertadores in South America. This will be the fifth confirmed participant for the 2029 edition, with the rest of the slots to be filled gradually over the next three years.

In total, 12 European clubs will participate. In addition to PSG, the Champions League winners from the 2025–26, 2026–27, and 2027–28 seasons will qualify automatically. The remaining eight spots for Europe will be awarded to the top-ranked clubs based on performances in the Champions League between 2025 and 2028.

How will the rest of the teams qualify for the tournament?

South America will send six clubs in total. Each Libertadores winner from 2025 through 2028 will qualify, along with the two highest-ranked clubs who do not win but accumulate the most points over those four years. If the same club wins more than once, the rankings will be used to fill in the extra slots.

Africa, Asia, and Concacaf will each have three additional places available. These will go to the winners of their respective continental championships from 2026 to 2028. With the 2025 winners already decided in each confederation, the remaining titles will determine the other qualifiers.

Oceania will send one team. The berth will go to the most successful club in the new OFC Professional League (OPL), which begins play in January 2026. Eight teams are expected to compete in the inaugural season of the OPL.

Lastly, one place is reserved for the host country. The specific qualification process for that spot remains unclear, and it could potentially be awarded by invitation or through domestic competition criteria yet to be announced.

Chelsea entered the tournament as underdogs, hampered by their inconsistent form. However, head coach Enzo Maresca forged a resilient team with a rock-solid defense anchored by a brilliant midfield. Furthermore, Cole Palmer’s outstanding performance and Joao Pedro’s unexpected scoring prowess propelled the English squad to the tournament championship.

Not only did Chelsea shine, but also Fluminense impressed by reaching the tournament semifinals, exceeding expectations with a stellar offensive game. Under Renato Gaucho’s leadership, they defeated top teams like Inter Milan and Al Hilal. However, it is a Mexican team who ultimately secured a coveted spot on the all-time standings podium of the FIFA Club World Cup.

How do the all-time FIFA Club World Cup standings look?

The FIFA Club World Cup has evolved over the years, yet its rich history and the legacy of the teams that have participated since its inception in 2000 remain significant. Notably, a Mexican team has distinguished itself by securing a spot on the all-time podium, underscoring their impressive performances in past editions of the tournament.

Club de Futbol Monterrey have reached third place in the all-time standings, showcasing an impressive performance in the past editions of the tournament. After competing in 16 matches, they amassed a total of 25 points. This achievement propelled them past several legendary teams, such as Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and FC Barcelona, who trail in that order.

Real Madrid, despite not capturing the spotlight at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, took the top spot in the all-time rankings. They played 19 matches and collected a remarkable 51 points, solidifying their status as the tournament’s most successful team. Following closely is Egypt’s Al Ahly, who played 28 games and gathered 35 points in previous editions, securing their position near the summit of this prestigious ranking.

In the absence of an official standings release from FIFA, Brazilian media GE Globo took the initiative to compile a final standings table based on the tournament’s outcomes. Fluminense surprised many by clinching fourth place with an impressive 11 points. Notably, Brazil’s representation in the top 10 was further solidified by Palmeiras, who secured the eighth spot.

Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, secured an impressive 16th place in the rankings, finishing ahead of prestigious teams such as Atletico Madrid, River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Porto. While they narrowly missed the top 10, Javier Mascherano’s team proudly emerged as the highest-ranked MLS team, outperforming the Seattle Sounders, who landed in 29th.

Inter Miami earn major prize money after Lionel Messi’s FIFA Club World Cup 2025 run ends

After bowing out in the Round of 16 against PSG, Inter Miami still managed to generate a significant $21.4 million in revenue by the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, as per Swiss Ramble. This achievement ties them with Monterrey as the highest-earning Concacaf team in the tournament, far outpacing the Seattle Sounders, who earned $9.6 million.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano sets bold goal for the team in MLS

Javier Mascherano has transformed Inter Miami’s impressive showing at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 into powerful motivation for their upcoming MLS season. Following their unexpected success on the international stage, he has set ambitious goals for the domestic front.

“If we were clearly able to compete at that level, there’s no excuse not to be able to compete in our domestic league. That has to be a boost of confidence for everything we’re about to play — not just MLS, but also the Leagues Cup starting later this month,” Mascherano stated, as reported by MLS.

Inter Miami have taken Javier Mascherano’s words to heart, translating them into impressive performances in MLS. Following its exit from the Club World Cup, the Herons have secured three consecutive victories, clinching the fifth place in the Eastern Conference. With three games in hand compared to its rivals, Lionel Messi’s team stands in a favorable position. Winning these matches could propel them to 47 points, solidifying its status as dominant leaders within the conference.

Two of the most notable absences in DAZN’s starting XI were Messi and Caicedo, two South American stars who shined for their respective teams. Messi’s Inter Miami were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain, but his individual contributions were widely praised. The Argentine played a pivotal role in helping the MLS side reach that stage, even if it wasn’t enough to prolong their stay in the tournament.

As for Caicedo, many considered the Ecuadorian to be the top midfielder of the competition. Without him, Chelsea’s midfield lacked structure and recovery. Teammates hailed Caicedo as their best player of the season, and his performance in the final against PSG was widely applauded — especially his dominance over Vitinha. Despite all that, Caicedo was left out of the Best XI, a decision many have called unfair.

DAZN’s 2025 Club World Cup best XI

The lineup features a heavy presence of players from PSG and Chelsea, which makes sense given they were the tournament finalists. Still, there were a few surprise inclusions that stood out for their exceptional play.

DAZN’s Best XI: Bono (Al Hilal); Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea); Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Vitinha (PSG), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Cole Palmer (Chelsea); Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Gonzalo Garcia (Real Madrid).

Social media quickly erupted with criticism over the inclusion of Enzo Fernandez and Vitinha at the expense of Caicedo. One explanation offered was that Caicedo missed the semifinals due to yellow card accumulation, which may have influenced the final selection.

Surprise names in the squad?

One of the biggest surprises was the inclusion of goalkeeper Bono from Al Hilal. The veteran shot-stopper played five matches, conceded six goals, and kept two clean sheets. He also saved a last-minute penalty from Federico Valverde in the opening 1-1 draw and delivered a crucial stop against Savinho in a thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester City in the Round of 16.

Up front, DAZN included Fluminense’s Jhon Arias and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia. Arias starred for Fluminense throughout the tournament, scoring a spectacular goal and recording an assist in the group stage against Ulsan. Garcia, meanwhile, stepped in for an ill Kylian Mbappe and quickly became one of Madrid’s most important players. He finished as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals, earning a deserved spot in the lineup.

“I went to protect Andrey (Santos). I saw the players surrounding him. As a good Brazilian, I went to protect a friend. A lot of people were arriving and, in that mess, I ended up being pushed. It’s part of the game. They don’t know how to lose, I think. It’s part of the game. Now it’s time to celebrate,” Joao Pedro expressed, via Sportv.

The game kicked off with both teams on equal footing, but tensions escalated as it neared the end. Joao and Marc Cucurella both faced aggressive challenges, leading to Joao Neves’ ejection. Despite the hostility, the Brazilian striker acknowledged that such pressure was expected after PSG‘s recent UEFA Champions League victory and high expectations.

Joao Pedro was not the only one discussing the situation; PSG head coach Luis Enrique also broke his silence on the subject. He acknowledged Chelsea’s well-earned championship, admitting that the English side outplayed them in the game’s final stretch, and the team struggled to keep pace. Much of Chelsea‘s finishing power stemmed from Cole Palmer’s outstanding performance, complemented by star striker Joao’s impressive contributions.

Chelsea captain Reece James opens up on Joao Pedro’s immediate impact in the squad

Since Didier Drogba’s retirement, strikers like Fernando Torres, Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata, and Romelu Lukaku have come and gone without leaving a significant mark. Now, Joao Pedro brings a spark that’s exciting fans as they hope for a proven goalscorer after several years. For that reason, team captain Reece James has spoken on the young Brazilian’s immediate impact.

“Joao is an amazing young player. I’ve played against him many times. I’m not sure how many knew his quality. He made his first start and scored two goals. His quality has opened a lot of people’s eyes. We’re happy to have him,” Reece James said in the pregame interview.

Though not widely known initially, Joao debuted in the Premier League with Watford in 2021-22, scoring 30 goals and 10 assists over two years. Brighton signed him for his standout play, and his continued excellence led Chelsea to invest $82 million to secure his talents. Joao quickly justified the price by netting three goals in his first three matches, showcasing a seamless adaptation and impactful presence in English soccer.

The Club World Cup final in New York, featuring European giants Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, ended in controversy after an altercation involving PSG head coach Luis Enrique. Following the final whistle, the Spanish manager was involved in a heated exchange with Chelsea forward Joao Pedro that escalated into a physical confrontation. The incident has raised questions about potential disciplinary action from FIFA.

According to Article 2 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, physical aggression or assault against an opponent or anyone other than a match official can result in a minimum suspension of three matches or a time-based penalty, depending on the severity of the act.

FIFA define aggression as physical actions such as kicking, punching, elbowing, biting, spitting, or hitting another person. However, punishments handed out during the Club World Cup, such as red cards or suspensions, are limited to that specific competition.

Even if Luis Enrique is sanctioned, it would not affect his ability to coach in UEFA tournaments or in French domestic league play. If FIFA’s disciplinary panel decides to act, any suspension would apply only to future editions of the Club World Cup, provided PSG qualify again.

After the match, Luis Enrique said that he was “foolish” during the incident. “I was foolish. He was just standing there, pushed me, I touched him, and he threw himself to the ground,” the coach said after the match.

When will FIFA announce a sanction?

The disciplinary process begins with the official match coordinator’s report, which documents any incidents on or around the field after the match. That report has now been submitted to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, which will review the situation and decide whether to open a formal case.

The Disciplinary Committee, which will review the match report and available video footage to determine whether Luis Enrique’s behavior fits the definition of aggression under the rules. Either way, his sanction would be postponed until the coach returned to the competition.

Luis Enrique immediately expressed regret for losing his composure during the heated exchange with Joao Pedro. Moments after the incident, the Spanish manager was seen explaining the confrontation to his assistants, attempting to clarify what had taken place with the Brazilian forward.

“I was foolish. He was just standing there, pushed me, I touched him, and he threw himself to the ground,” Enrique said, describing the sequence in which he confronted the Chelsea player, reached for his neck, and appeared to strike him in the face.

In the post-match press conference, Luis Enrique insisted his intention had been to deescalate the situation. “At the end of the match, there’s a lot of tension. It’s a situation that could have been avoided by everyone involved. My goal was simply to make sure things didn’t get worse,” he said.

Why did this happen?

Luis Enrique continued offering explanations, showing a more vulnerable side rarely seen in public. He admitted that emotions had boiled over on the touchline in a high-stakes final, and that pressure played a major role in his actions.

“There was pushing from everyone. It wasn’t ideal. It’s the result of pressure and tension in the match, and I don’t have much else to add,” he told reporters. “My clear intention was to separate the players and keep the situation under control.”

What did he say about Chelsea as champions?

Speaking about the game itself, Luis Enrique acknowledged that Chelsea had been the better team. “We couldn’t find our rhythm and they pressed us very well. Today, they were the superior side,” he told DAZN.

“I think they deserve the win because of how clinical they were,” he added, offering praise for Chelsea’s performance and conceding that PSG were simply outplayed on the night.

In a reprehensible and rarely seen act, the experienced coach attempted to grab the opposing player by the neck, causing him to fall to the ground visibly in pain from the incident.

Although the Spanish coach’s attempted aggression did not fully connect, it was enough to partially strike the Chelsea player’s face, causing him to fall to the ground immediately.

Immediately, players and staff from both sides stepped in to calm the situation, separating Luis Enrique from the scene and providing assistance to Joao Pedro, who remained on the ground.

Chelsea, champions of the tournament

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup finally has its new champion, and it’s none other than Chelsea. The English side defeated PSG convincingly, sealing a dominant 3–0 victory within the first 45 minutes.

With two exquisite goals from Cole Palmer — who was named Superior Player of the Match — and another from the previously mentioned Joao Pedro, the London side were crowned champions of this remarkable tournament.

For the French side, the consolation lies in having put up a worthy performance throughout the tournament, being contenders from start to finish and showcasing a high level of play in every match.