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FCL
AFCON 2025
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A Pulse Sports highlight reel featuring seven positive events from the Club World Cup.
The Club World Cup urged us to have grandiose expectations, and while the degree to which it delivered on its promise of a global football party is debatable, even its staunchest critics cannot deny that FIFA and, by implication, Gianni Infantino, have created something special.
Special, but not perfect. The competition's low points were in its attendance levels, unfriendly weather, lack of interest from Europe, fixture congestion, apparent sports washing (yes, Donald Trump) and evident disregard for player welfare.
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13:45 - 14.07.2025
FIFA Club World Cup: How much did Chelsea and other clubs earn?
Pulse Sports analyses the billion-dollar 2025 Club World Cup, breaking down each club’s financial windfall in the expanded tournament.
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17:05 - 14.07.2025
They should stick with it - Mikel Obi praises Chelsea's midfield in Club World Cup victory
Former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has lauded manager Enzo Maresca's midfield tactics in Chelsea's Club World Cup final victory against Paris Saint-Germain.
However, from a non-Eurocentric football-loving worldview, as is the vantage point of this writer, it more than makes up for it. The competition was largely exciting and engaging; here are the top 10 moments that define the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Al Hilal advance the Saudi agenda
The Saudi Pro League, through some of its ambassadors like Cristiano Ronaldo, have been making the bold claim that they belong amongst the best leagues in the world.
While European football clubs have the Champions League as an arena to battle out similar claims, no competition before the current version of the Club World Cup allowed more non-European and South American teams to test their mettle among the best.
Al Hilal were the only Saudi Pro League club in the competition, and they made an excellent account of themselves. They had one of the first major upsets in the tournaments, securing a draw against Real Madrid; more impressive was their achievement in the round of 16, knocking out one of the tournament favourites, Manchester City.
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Messi is still one of the best
With the number of injuries he suffered last season, his performance during last summer’s Copa America, and Inter Miami’s first-round exit from the MLS Playoffs, it was reasonable to assume that Father Time has finally caught up with the diminutive Argentine.
However, during the Club World Cup, Messi showed us he still belonged amongst the best, evident in his second-half performance against the European champions. Against Porto in the group stages, he scored the winner through a free kick, and throughout the competition, he was a playmaker extraordinaire.
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However, against PSG, in the second 45 minutes at least, there was an extra spring in his step. He was almost indefensible for a PSG side that had run roughshod over Europe’s biggest teams this season. He won 1v1 battles against the physically imposing duo of Nuno Mendes and William Pacho and should have bagged at least two assists from the match.
Gonzalo takes his chance
Prior to the tournament, Kylian Mbappé suffered the flu, which ruled him out for the first set of games in the tournament. New manager Xabi Alonso had to rely on Real Madrid Castilla side Gonzalo Garcia.
The 21-year-old youngster made the most of the opportunity, scoring four goals in the competition to win the Golden Boot. He showed signs of a major talent, and if he goes on to be a generation-defining star, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup would be remembered as where it all began.
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Chelsea triumphs
Chelsea played an excellent tournament, defeating Paris Saint-Germain to become world champions. Of all the European teams in the competition, the Blues have had the least activity in the Champions League in recent years; however, their success in 2021 ensured they had a place.
Suffering a defeat to Flamengo in the group stages cast doubt on their credentials, but they were faultless in the knockout stages, defeating Benfica, Palmeiras and Fluminense. Chelsea were unlikely but formidable challengers against European champions PSG, but made light work against the Parisiens to win the competition.
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Brazilian teams are not far behind
Brazilian teams were probably the biggest winners from the competition as a collective, as the Club World Cup showed the rest of the world they were capable of competing on equal footing as European clubs in a way no other confederation can.
Botafogo, Fluminense, Palmeiras and Flamengo all made excellent accounts of themselves, with Fluminense advancing the furthest with a semi-final finish.
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South American fan culture is supreme
For all the talk about the apathy from European fans, not enough was made of South American supporters going over the top to cheer for their team. Palmeiras painted Philadelphia green during their game against Inter Miami; River Plate supporters brought the heat in all their matches, as did the remaining South American fan clubs in the competition.
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The point of the Club World Cup was that football was more global than the current Eurocentric offering, and seeing South American fans display at the tournament drove home that point.