FIFA's Club World Cup may not have much buzz, but hey, it's soccer on American soil

A FC Porto fan cheers for his team prior to the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Palmeiras and FC Porto in East Rutherford, NJ, Sunday, June 15, 2025. Credit: AP/Adam Hunger
These things can be true at the same time:
First, the FIFA Club World Cup so far has failed to generate significant mainstream buzz in the United States, including for five group stage games at MetLife Stadium.
Second, that has absolutely nothing to do with the state of soccer in the United States, where the sport never has been more popular.
The latter will be demonstrated again when North America hosts the World Cup that features national teams next June and July.
That tournament, like the current one, will end with a final at MetLife Stadium. Beyond that, they do not have much in common in magnitude or mojo.
But for avid American fans of world soccer, there is no good reason not to check out the newly revamped, 32-team Club World Cup concept.
If nothing else, just consider it a warm-up for next summer’s mega-event, complete with real grass at the big American football stadium in the Jersey meadowlands.
The first of nine overall games at MetLife was played on Sunday, a 0-0 draw between FC Porto of Portugal and SE Palmeiras of Brazil on a damp, cool evening.
MetLife was about half full — the announced attendance was 46,275 — with most seats in the lower bowl occupied, on one end by thousands of chanting, singing, flag-waving Palmeiras fans, who drastically outnumbered those for Porto.
It was a fun atmosphere, all in all. And thanks to the relatively limited interest, especially for the group stage, ticket prices have come way down from their initial cost.
Plus, hey, it’s soccer. If you are into that sort of thing, what’s not to like?
“Men’s, women’s, co-ed naked, doesn’t matter; as long as somebody’s kicking a ball, I’m cool with it,” Fox Sports analyst Alexi Lalas said last week.
“Not for nothing, but FIFA Co-Ed Naked World Cup sounds pretty good, too. I wouldn’t put it past them. The more soccer the better. It’s great.”
Key point: Lalas was on a call with reporters to promote the current CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States and Canada and next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, both of which are on Fox.
Fox is not carrying the Club World Cup. DAZN and TNT Sports are. But for soccer folks, the next 13 months are something to celebrate regardless of their allegiances.
“It’s people kicking a ball in the United States, and I’d say that’s a good thing for everybody involved,” Lalas said. “You can have this incredible buffet of soccer throughout your summer.”
Landon Donovan, like Lalas a Fox analyst and former U.S. national team member, added this on the same call:
“I’m not a FIFA ambassador. I’m not a Club World Cup ambassador. But I think it’s incredible. I’m excited for it, genuinely excited for it.”
Donovan urged patience with the new event.
“I think the players involved, as a general statement, will take it seriously and will be excited about it,” he said. “The alternative is [top international teams] come to America on a preseason tour and play six friendly games that mean nothing.”
Like Donovan, I’m not a FIFA ambassador.
And there is much to be skeptical about in this hodgepodge of an event, with brand-name European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich mixed in with MLS teams along with other clubs that are less familiar to most American fans.
Ulsan HD, a South Korean club, will face Brazil’s Fluminense at MetLife on Saturday. Umm, perhaps smaller stadiums might have been a good idea.
Why is FIFA doing this? Presumably because it was tired of watching club soccer money go elsewhere, such as to the UEFA Champions League.
So it is putting up big money for this — $125 million to the winner and a total purse of about $1 billion. And FIFA allowed a special transfer window earlier this month to allow for roster additions.
FIFA has been sending out daily emails to journalists with glowing quotes from coaches and players about how important all this is and how excited they are.
A FIFA news release recounting Saturday’s opener at Hard Rock Stadium near Miami used the terms “amazing,” “remarkable,” “epic,” “incredible” and “historic.”
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has been working overtime to promote his new baby, against apathetic headwinds.
But Palmeiras supporters did not need convincing on Sunday. No, this is not the same as watching one’s national team play. Why wait for next June, though?
“My experience, and I can speak as a fan now, is that the more soccer that’s on, the better for everybody,” Donovan said. “It’s giving people the opportunity to watch this game all summer. There’s going to be games on all the time, so you’re going to be inundated with it. If you love soccer the way we do, I think it’s incredible.”