After their performance in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 halftime show, Doja Cat, Coldplay, J Balvin, and Tems made history in soccer.

As the expanded 2025 Club World Cup comes to a close, The Sporting News examines the key takeaways for FIFA and local organisers ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Unfamiliar opponents have been a consistent theme through Chelsea’s run to the final. In four of their six matches in the Club World Cup, Chelsea have met their opponents for the first time in history. Only one side in their run, Benfica, they have met more than twice. But Enzo Maresca’s side handled their draw with relative ease.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino says the Club World Cup is "already the most successful club competition in the world", despite widespread criticism of the tournament.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber believes the FIFA Club World Cup this summer has been an “absolute terrific success.”

The musical act at halftime of Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain will be performed far away from the field of play

Despite the humbling exit, Los Blancos didn’t walk away empty-handed. Quite the opposite—their tournament run yielded one of the most lucrative prize hauls in club soccer history. When Real Madrid took the field against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semifinals,

Paris Saint-Germain are on the brink of an unprecedented quintuple after a commanding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final.