Big names in action in 2023 FIFA Club World Cup

A competition that has often struggled for notoriety in the footballing world, the FIFA Club World Cup isn’t normally hugely revered by international betting sites. 

However, the news that FIFA will be expanding the tournament from 2024 onwards has added more scrutiny to this year’s competition in Saudi Arabia. 

The FIFA Club World Cup has always held a unique standing in the global football calendar, as it has always attempted to appease the busy playing schedules that each club has. 
 
Moving beyond 2023, the FIFA Club World Cup is set to be a much bigger operation, with the decision makers at FIFA keen to broaden the horizons of the tournament. 
 
The 2023 incarnation of the tournament however is still piquing the attention of punters with Aussie bookmakers, as the successful sides from across the respective continents battle it out for glory in Saudi Arabia. 
 
City to cap a special year? 

2023 has undoubtedly been the year of Manchester City, with the blues emulating their great Manchester rivals of 1999 and winning the Treble – the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. 
 
It was breaking their Champions League duck in Istanbul that secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia and how they would love to be crowned the world champions this season. 
 
Whilst they have struggled recently in the Premier League, Manchester City remain the team to beat in Europe and England with many betting apps and they are the short priced favourites to win the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023. 
 
Fiery Fluminense to challenge? 

Winning the Copa Libertadores is the ultimate accolade in South American football, and it was the Brazilian giants Fluminense who reigned supreme in 2023. 
 
Booking their place in the FIFA Club World Cup final was a biproduct of the achievement made by Fluminense this season and how they would love to showcase their talent on the world stage here in Saudi Arabia. 
 
Whilst Manchester City are the favourites for glory, Fluminense will be representing the soccer-crazy continent of South America and with some experienced heads in their side, they could certainly be in the mix with many soccer betting sites here. 
 
New format in the future 

Whilst the FIFA Club World Cup has endured a mixed reputation with many punters and online betting sites, FIFA look to have established a new format that could shape the future of the game. 
 
In a similar vein to the existing international World Cup structure, there will be 32 teams featuring in the FIFA Club World Cup from 2025 onwards, with the first incarnation of the tournament to be held in the United States in June 2025. 
 
The teams that are successful in the respective worldwide competitions in 2024 will compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, making it a tournament that could shape the landscape of world sport moving forwards. 

There simply is no letup in the worldwide soccer calendar, with the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, pitting the best sides from around the world against each other. 

European champions Manchester City will take on South American representatives Fluminense in the final, in what will be the final edition of the tournament before its planned expansion from 2025.