Football General Manager
Aaaaand breathe. The Club World Cup is done. It was a frantic, breathless and often maddening month in the United States. And it concluded in appropriate style, a fever dream of a final, a sort of imperfect Super Bowl that Chelsea won 3-0.
There was a lot to like: the last match was highly watchable and delivered a significant upset – with Chelsea‘s Cole Palmer having his much deserved day in the sun while Ousmane Dembele and PSG finally cracked. There were some really good games throughout, some outstanding player performances and fans that brought the energy across oceans and continents.
But, then, let’s not forget about the heat, pitch quality, travel, fan issues – and PSG coach Luis Enrique losing his temper at full time of the final. These are the logistics that need figuring out. Can they be fixed in the next iteration?
Ultimately it was an interesting and largely satisfying month of soccer, and that’s probably what fans want. This seemed a solid proof of concept, with enough evidence to suggest that such an expanded CWC does make sense.
BALLGM US writers break it all down in a Club World Cup final edition of… The Rondo.
Aaaaand breathe. The Club World Cup is done. It was a frantic, breathless and often maddening month in the United States. And it concluded in appropriate style, a fever dream of a final, a sort of imperfect Super Bowl that Chelsea won 3-0.
There was a lot to like: the last match was highly watchable and delivered a significant upset – with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer having his much deserved day in the sun while Ousmane Dembele and PSG finally cracked. There were some really good games throughout, some outstanding player performances, and fans that brought the energy across oceans and continents.
But, then, let’s not forget about the heat, pitch quality, travel, fan issues – and PSG coach Luis Enrique losing his temper at full time of the final. These are the logistics that need figuring out. Can they be fixed in the next iteration?
Ultimately it was an interesting and largely satisfying month of soccer, and that’s probably what fans want. This seemed a solid proof of concept, with enough evidence to suggest that such an expanded CWC does make sense.
BALLGM US writers break it all down in a Club World Cup final edition of… The Rondo.
Tom Hindle: A strong 6/10. The idea here is actually really rather good, but some of the execution was just laughably bad. South American teams saved it from disaster, and the emotions at the end of Sunday’s final between PSG and Chelsea proved that it meant something. For that reason, it can’t be a failure – even if it definitely wasn’t fully a success. The business lot probably call it a solid “proof of concept.”
Jacob Schneider: Give it a 7/10. The on-field performances were rather fun, and the chance to watch some unfamilar teams was pretty great, too. Where it fell short was was in the tournament’s organization and logistics. Ticket pricing was outlandish, marketing was out of touch with the audience, stadium locations left a lot to be desired. FIFA has so much to learn from the CWC ahead of the World Cup in North America in 2026.
Alex Labidou: Let’s give this tournament an 8/10. This turned out to be better than expected, especially matches in which the supporters of the respective teams showed out and brought their atmosphere to the U.S. With some key improvements, this tournament can be a mainstay in the soccer landscape.
TH: It’s definitely just a blip. They were tired, the tournament was a bit much, this was probably one game too many. Luis Enrique is a really excellent manager, but he was thoroughly outcoached, which he won’t like. If anything, they’ll have a bit more juice heading into next year.
JS: It’s a blip for sure. They played 11 straight months without a break in the best high-press system in Europe. They cracked at the end – everyone is beyond exhausted. They’re fine.
AL: In all fairness, PSG just ran out of gas. They had to face a gauntlet of some of the best teams in Europe and South America, and by the time the final hit with another scorching day, it all hit them at the worst time. Beating Real Madrid in the way they did in the semifinals probably seemed like the actual trophy game – and it likely took some steam out of the final.
TH: You wouldn’t rule them out of an FA Cup or Carabao Cup run. But anything else feels like a bit of a stretch. Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City all probably have a bit too much in the league, while Champions League success is a bit to ask. Then again, confidence can be a powerful thing.
JS: Domestically, it would make sense to see them contend for the Carabao and FA Cups, while also pushing the likes of City and Liverpool for an EPL title. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if they come up trophy-less this year, too. They’re going to place heavy emphasis on the UCL, and domestic action often gets sacrificed for that.
AL: They should win at least one domestic trophy, and be serious contenders for the Premier League crown. Liverpool and Manchester City are still better positioned to win, but Chelsea will be lurking if either slip. Also, after years of treating the team like a billion-dollar petri dish, it seems Blues ownership have finally found their core with Palmer, Moises Caceido, Reece James, and Enzo Fernandez. If João Pedro, Liam Delap, or Levi Colwill take the next step, more accolades will come.
TH: Mo Salah would like a word.
JS: This is a tough one because it has to be looked at positionally. As an out-and-out No. 10, though, as it stands, yes. Curious to see how Florian Wirtz does this season, but Palmer on his best day is the best attacking mid in the EPL.
AL: No, but he is certainly a top-five or top-10 player in the Premier League. Palmer can match up with the top attacking midfielders in the league, such as Salah or Bukayo Saka. Yet, his biggest issue is consistency. His torrid form at the Club World Cup papered over the cracks of a three-month goalless stretch. If he can deliver more consistent goal contributions, Chelsea will turn heads this season.
TH: If it’s in America, figure out the situation with the stadiums. Either play games in smaller venues, or only ones those that are covered – ideally both. No cred for rubbish pitches in the U.S.. More broadly, it’s worth thinking about who actually plays in this tournament. The fact that none of the league winners in Europe participated is a bit silly.
JS: Looking back at the 2025 version, it would be the location of the final. MetLife is not suited for soccer. The stadium, the atmosphere, the location – its a boring gray brick building that doesn’t suit the colorful palette of the world’s game.
AL: Attendance was a big issue for teams not named Real Madrid, Bayern or PSG. Chelsea and Man City didn’t sellout every game, for example, and they are two of the world’s most followed teams. Eliminating teams that were questionable to begin with, such as Red Bull Salzburg or LAFC, would help. Also, make tickets more reasonable. America is still a growing soccer market, and it’s not as rabid as, say, Asia or the Middle East. It’s hard to convince a casual fan to spend upwards of $200 for Chelsea vs. LAFC in Atlanta when they can spend a fraction of that to see the Hawks, Braves or their own soccer team, United, and get great seats. And FIFA should pair teams that have limited engagement here in double-headers with bigger teams. All of that will help create a more consistent tournament vibe.
