The 2025 Club World Cup marked a historic turning point in the international football landscape, but not without controversy, injuries, and surprises. From Musiala’s injury to Mbappé’s flop, through to Javier Tebas’ outspoken criticism and FIFA’s bold tech experiments, the tournament was a global showcase both fascinating and polarizing. Here are the ten most important things to know about the 2025 edition of the Club World Cup.
1. A Revolutionary and Heavily Criticized Format
This edition introduced a brand-new format with 32 teams, modeled after the national team World Cup: eight groups of four, followed by a knockout stage starting from the round of 16. A game-changing move that boosted visibility and revenue but drew heavy criticism from many in the football world.
The harshest critic was Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, who accused FIFA of trying to “destroy the balance between clubs” for commercial purposes. “It’s a soulless tournament,” he said, pointing out that the compressed calendar puts players’ health at risk and undermines the importance of national leagues.
FIFPRO, the global players’ union, and the World Leagues Forum also voiced strong concerns about the physical and mental overload players are being subjected to. The sustainability of the international calendar is shaping up to be one of the most contentious issues in modern football.
2. FIFA Tests Groundbreaking Technology
This Club World Cup also served as a testing ground for FIFA, which introduced five never-before-seen innovations in an official tournament:
- Referees wore body-cams, providing fans with an immersive, real-time perspective.
- VAR decisions were displayed live on stadium screens, complete with referee audio.
- A semi-automated offside system was tested, using a chip in the ball and sensors in players’ boots.
- Real-time statistics powered by artificial intelligence were available to commentators and coaching staff alike.
- Coaches could make substitutions via tablet directly from the bench.
A quiet revolution that, if approved, could radically reshape the face of football in the years to come.
3. Stadiums and Atmosphere: the Football Super Bowl
The tournament took place in twelve U.S. cities, with the final held at New York’s MetLife Stadium. FIFA went all-in on American-style entertainment: massive stadiums and side events.
Even though there were problems at the beginning due to crazy prices, absurd schedules, and a lack of clarity: if the American public has ignored the new competition, it’s partly due to FIFA’s mistakes. To avoid embarrassment, FIFA tried every means to fill the stands.
The tournament hosted celebrities like J Balvin, Doja Cat, Laura Pausini and Robbie Williams. All in all an interactive fan zone blending football, music and pop culture.
4. Eye-watering Prize Money
The 2025 Club World Cup also marked a leap forward in financial rewards:
- $40 million for the winner
- $30 million for the runner-up
- Cash prizes for clubs reaching the quarterfinals and round of 16
These figures, paradoxically, exceed the prize money for the Champions League in some cases. Another point of friction with European leagues and federations, who fear this is a “disguised FIFA Super League.”
5. Musiala’s Injury: a Major Setback
One of the most significant sporting moments was Jamal Musiala’s injury. The German star from Bayern Munich suffered a medial collateral ligament injury during the quarterfinal against PSG, after an accidental collision with Donnarumma, that provoked the fracture of the fibula and injuries to the ligaments of the left ankle.
The injury will sideline him for like 3 months, ruling him out of preseason and the early stages of the 2025/26 Bundesliga. Bad news also for the German national team, which had been counting on him in their post-Euro rebuilding phase.
6. Mbappé Flops in Semifinal vs PSG
One of the most talked-about moments of the tournament was Kylian Mbappé’s underwhelming performance. The highly anticipated PSG vs Real Madrid semifinal turned into a nightmare for the former Paris star.
PSG dismantled Real with a 4-0 win, but Mbappé was the evening’s biggest disappointment. Many football experts defined him “invisible” on the pitch. On the contrary, Fabián Ruiz stole the spotlight with a brace and was PSG’s true technical leader throughout the tournament
7. Remarkable Moments
Besides Musiala and Mbappé, several stunning results lit up the tournament:
- Bayern Munich demolished Auckland City 10-0 in the group stage.
- Saudi side Al Hilal knocked out Manchester City in extra time, one of the biggest upsets of the competition.
- Fluminense eliminated one of the tournament favorite Inter in the round of 16.
- Estêvão (Estêvão Willian) of Palmeiras is the one who won more Player of the Match awards, as well as being the youngest player to win one. In addition, he will soon be part of the World Champions squad as he will wear Chelsea kit in the upcoming season.
- Cole Palmer awarded MVP of the tournament, is also the player with the highest Sofascore rating, 7.88.
8. An all-European final: Chelsea vs PSG
For the first time in Club World Cup history, two European clubs faced off in the final. Maresca’s Chelsea beat Fluminense 2-0 in the semis, while PSG routed Real Madrid.
The Chelsea vs PSG final was not just a testament to European dominance but also a showcase for a new generation of stars: Palmer, Pedro Neto, Dembélé, Donnarumma, and Fabián Ruiz all shined.
9. Blue is the Colour
Against all odds, Chelsea won the 2025 Club World Cup, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium. The Londoners, considered outsiders compared to other tournament superpowers, played a near-perfect match tactically, physically, and emotionally.
Man of the match was undoubtedly Cole Palmer, who scored a stunning brace, confirming himself a big game player. The third and final goal came at the end of the first half, with João Pedro finishing off a slick through ball. PSG looked surprisingly flat and disorganized, ending the tournament in the worst possible way.
The result turned predictions upside down. Chelsea proved to the world that in football, nothing is ever guaranteed.
10. Ugly Scenes on Global TV
Moments after the final whistle, chaos erupted on the pitch. João Pedro was celebrating Chelsea’s victory when PSG coach Luis Enrique, clearly frustrated, interpreted the Brazilian’s dancing and smiles as taunting. He approached the player, shoved him, and then briefly grabbed him by the neck after a hand-to-face incident. João Pedro broke free and fell to the ground, triggering a broader scuffle.
It was an unfortunate episode that tarnished the spirit of sportsmanship such a prestigious competition is supposed to embody.
Football’s New Era
The 2025 Club World Cup was an unprecedented event. Spectacular, media-driven, but also highly divisive. Between groundbreaking technology, astronomical prize money, institutional backlash, and serious injuries, FIFA has sent a clear message: global football will never be the same again.