Impact of added European fixtures The proposed expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup drew criticism from several football stakeholders, including
FIFPRO, a global union representing players from 66 associations, and the
World Leagues Forum, which represents 24 professional leagues, both citing concerns about player welfare and fixture congestion. Critics accused FIFA of prioritising commercial interests over player health. The introduction of the annual
FIFA Intercontinental Cup was similarly criticised. In May 2024, FIFPRO and the World Leagues Forum sent a letter to FIFA demanding rescheduling and reform of the
FIFA International Match Calendar and warned of legal or other action if their concerns were ignored. On June 13, 2024, the English
Professional Footballers' Association and France's
Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels filed a legal claim in the
Business Court in
Brussels to protest the tournament. FIFPRO also warned of potential strike action. On January 30, 2025, a meeting between FIFA and FIFPRO was held to address fixture congestion. In response to the criticism, FIFA stated that the Club World Cup's schedule followed the international calendar and allowed for rest before domestic competitions, adding that its events occupied just 1 percent of the football calendar and were agreed with players and confederations.
Impact of multi-club ownership Several clubs in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup were linked to multi-club ownership structures, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Among them were Mexican sides
Pachuca and
León, both owned by Grupo Pachuca. FIFA regulations prohibit any club from owning shares in, being a member of, or exerting influence over another participating club, with "influence" defined through control of voting rights or decision-making authority. Alajuelense argued that it was next in line to qualify under CONCACAF's rankings, but FIFA determined the club could not be party to proceedings. On February 4, 2025, Alajuelense appealed to the
Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA, Pachuca, and León. On March 21, FIFA announced that León had been removed from the tournament. According to
The Guardian, a play-off would determine the replacement between
Los Angeles FC, runner-up of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, and
América, the highest-ranked Mexican club not already qualified. Alajuelense and the
Philadelphia Union were not considered. León appealed, and hearings for both its case and Alajuelense's took place in April and May 2025 respectively, but on May 6 FIFA confirmed that León's expulsion would stand and that the play-off would proceed. LAFC secured the final spot with a 2–1 extra time win over América on May 31 at
BMO Stadium.
Ticket prices and attendance and
Porto at the
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey drew 46,275 spectators Ticket prices for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup attracted early scrutiny from some fans, who noted that certain final seats were listed at over US$2,200 due to dynamic pricing models, although FIFA later adjusted prices in February 2025, lowering them to around US$140 for the semifinals and US$300 for the final to make the tournament more accessible. A 10 percent cancellation fee applied to exchanges also drew attention, but the overall response to the tournament was positive. The opening fixture between
Al Ahly and
Inter Miami saw strong turnout following final-week promotional campaigns, and FIFA reported over 60,000 spectators in attendance, with strong international broadcast figures. By early July, FIFA had recorded over 2 million tickets sold and average attendance of approximately 36,000 per match, a figure comparable to several leading European domestic leagues. While 14 matches attracted smaller crowds of under 20,000, mostly at MLS venues, 11 fixtures surpassed 90 percent capacity, including six at Hard Rock Stadium. although a match involving
Wydad and
Juventus saw minor incidents involving smoke bombs and one arrest.
Selection of Inter Miami CF As with previous editions of the FIFA Club World Cup, the expanded 2025 format allocated a slot for the host nation. During the mid-season
2024 MLS All-Star Game, MLS Commissioner
Don Garber stated that the slot could be awarded to the 2024
MLS Supporters' Shield winner, the
MLS Cup 2024 winner, or via a playoff between the two. On October 19, 2024, FIFA announced that
Inter Miami would represent the host nation as winners of the Supporters' Shield, awarding the slot before the start of the
2024 MLS Cup playoffs and after Inter Miami had already secured the Shield. Although the decision drew scrutiny from some sections of the media and fanbase, particularly regarding its timing and the involvement of
Lionel Messi, others viewed it as a practical resolution in keeping with the tournament's structure and historical practice. Inter Miami were later eliminated from the playoffs by
Atlanta United in the
first round on November 10, but head coach
Gerardo Martino defended the club's inclusion on the grounds that the Supporters' Shield constituted a valid and recognised form of domestic achievement.
Immigration and visa issues On June 10, 2025,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced their involvement in providing security during the first round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and reminded non-American citizens to carry valid proof of legal stay. The announcement raised concerns among some fans regarding the
Trump administration's deportation policy, especially as those detained could potentially face indefinite detention or be transferred to other countries such as
El Salvador. FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the increased security presence, stating that the safety of fans was a top priority, particularly in light of the
2024 Copa América final, which was held in the same stadium and saw large numbers of supporters storm the gates to gain entry.
Rivalry between Europe and South America The tournament intensified the rivalry between European teams and the rest of the world, in particular the South Americans. Initially the debate involved how well the non-European teams would fare against the European teams; it then intensified when South American teams began to record victories against their European counterparts. Some South American managers, fans, and journalists also tried to dismiss European criticism of the tournament as "
loser excuses" and a "symbol of
European arrogance and
elitism". Commentators questioned whether European dominance had been overstated, with analysis suggesting that the myth of superiority was being tested by results on the pitch. In response,
Paris Saint-Germain coach
Luis Enrique remarked that South Americans had no need to compare themselves with Europeans, emphasising the shared global stature of both footballing regions and pointing to the widespread recruitment of South American players by European clubs.
Manchester City manager
Pep Guardiola offered a more supportive view of South American competitiveness, arguing that European fans should not be surprised when clubs from the region secure wins and that such outcomes reflect the real global balance of quality in football. However,
Chelsea coach
Enzo Maresca argued that European clubs faced congested schedules that could affect player fitness, but a journalist noted that South American teams played even more matches during the same period, challenging the idea that European sides were uniquely overworked. The increased attention to Brazilian clubs also led to a sharp spike in global interest in the
Brazilian League, with
Google Trends reporting the highest search volume for the term since 2020. While the performances reignited continental pride, the on-field results remained competitive; in twelve direct UEFA–CONMEBOL encounters, European clubs registered six wins, South American clubs won three times, and three matches ended in draws.
Weather and logistical challenges The tournament was marked by significant weather-related and logistical disruptions, raising concerns ahead of the
2026 FIFA World Cup. Several matches were delayed or temporarily suspended due to
thunderstorms and
lightning, with stoppages ranging from around 46 minutes to nearly two hours, as FIFA safety protocols required repeated pauses whenever lightning was detected near stadiums. High temperatures also posed a challenge, particularly for midday kickoffs, with players and coaches highlighting the physical toll of extreme heat and uneven playing conditions between day and evening matches. Beyond the pitch, severe weather contributed to travel and traffic problems, including flight delays and congestion around venues, affecting teams, officials, media, and supporters, further intensifying debate about scheduling and infrastructure preparedness for future tournaments. ==See also==