Why the FIFA Club World Cup Is Still Meaningless — And Why It Should Stay That Way

I’ve covered three NBA playoffs, analyzed every corner of European football analytics, and even interviewed coaches who cry during halftime speeches. But nothing has made me question a competition’s value quite like watching Paris Saint-Germain field half their starters in the Club World Cup.

Yes — you read that right. The team with Neymar and Mbappé? They sent out a second-string lineup against Porto in the semifinal just weeks after winning Ligue 1. Not for rest. Not for strategy. For this cup.

The Core Problem: No True Global Championship

Let’s be honest: any meaningful tournament must answer one question — who is truly the best?

The World Cup decides that for national teams. The UEFA Champions League does it for Europe’s elite. But can we say the same about the FIFA Club World Cup?

Not when clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or Manchester City aren’t even eligible.

No matter how many points you accumulate in your domestic league or continental competition, if you’re not from CONMEBOL or CAF or AFC… you’re out.

Try telling Messi he didn’t win something real because his club didn’t qualify via regional rankings? That feels like asking someone to win an Olympic medal based on a local track meet.

Why Europe Holds All the Cards (And That’s Fine)

Let’s talk about talent distribution.

Where do top players go? To Europe — specifically, to England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France.

Why? Money talks louder than trophies. Salary caps don’t exist at elite levels; stars earn more in one season than most nations spend on their entire national football budget.

So yes — if you’re an emerging star in Indonesia or Mexico City or Nairobi… European scouts will find you eventually.

It’s not magic; it’s capitalism at work.

This means: by default, all elite-level footballers are playing in Europe. And since top players shape top clubs… then yes: the strongest clubs are almost always from Europe.

So why would we need a global tournament where those strongest teams don’t compete? That defeats the purpose of calling it “world” at all.

The Reality Check: Attitude Speaks Louder Than Brackets

Here’s my favorite irony: The only teams treating this tournament seriously are those without real hope of winning anything bigger. The Asian champions? They come with pride and fire. South American runners-up? Full commitment to honor their region’s legacy. But look at PSG vs Porto last year: first-half substitutions included two midfielders and a center-back labeled “reserve.” The manager said they were rotating due to workload concerns… — as if rotation matters when your opponent is fighting for glory with everything they have. If a major competition doesn’t get full effort from its biggest names… what does that say about its credibility? The Champions League never sees this kind of disinterest after May finishes up—because everyone still cares deeply about being crowned champion of Europe. The Club World Cup? Not so much.