AFCON 2025
The FIFA World Club Cup is up and running, with the United States hosting 32 teams across the world for the expanded version of the tournament.
Al Ahly, Africa’s most populous club, and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami kicked off the tournament on Saturday evening with an exciting goalless draw at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman scored the first goal of the tournament on Sunday afternoon as Bayern Munich took apart Auckland City.
So far, 17 goals have been scored in the tournament after five matches, but the Bavarians are the biggest winners as they beat Auckland City 10-0.
Fans have been treated to a decent level of excitement from the matches, and a couple of things have been learnt.
1. Decent Turnout
The 2025 FIFA World Club Cup has witnessed an encouraging number of turnouts. The opening match between 12-time CAF Champions League Al Ahly and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami witnessed 60,927 crowd at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Over 60,000 fans watched the highly anticipated clash between reigning champions of Europe, PSG and Atletico Madrid, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The other matches have also seen a good number of fans in the stadium.
2. Paris Saint-Germain Favorites
Reigning Champions of Europe, Paris Saint-Germain, showed that there are favorites to win the tournament. Luis Enrique’s men showed dominance and control as they thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, 20-year-old Senny Mayulu, and Lee Kang-In got on the scoresheet in the afternoon. PSG controlled the game from start to finish as they put themselves as arguably the favorites to win the competition ahead of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.
3. Whether Condition
Miami’s sweltering evening heat became an unexpected challenge at kickoff, with temperatures soaring past 30°C (86°F) and oppressive humidity making conditions grueling for players and fans alike. Other centers have witnessed the same condition except for matches played in the evening.
Referees enforced cooling breaks at intervals, allowing exhausted players to have a drink under the stifling conditions. In the stands, supporters fanned themselves relentlessly, the thick air turning the match into as much a test of endurance as skill.
The added strain comes at a brutal stage of the season, with clubs like PSG, Inter Milan, and Chelsea—both deep into European campaigns—having already played about 60 matches this year. There are concerns over player fatigue and injuries loom large, raising questions about the toll of an ever-expanding football calendar.
