This summer was absolutely wild with some of the most thrilling football clashes ever seen in the newly revamped FIFA Club World Cup — but chances are, you missed a lot of the behind-the-scenes drama. From a potential El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, to the craziest fan moments fueled by pure passion for their clubs — beIN SPORTS brings you exclusive coverage you won’t find anywhere else. Don’t miss the full video recap!

A Historic Tournament That Broke All the Rules

Chelsea lifted the trophy in a dramatic final against Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in the U.S. — with none other than former president Donald Trump handing over the silverware. The tournament featured 32 teams from around the globe and awarded over $1 billion in prize money, making it the biggest Club World Cup in history.

Shockwaves rippled throughout the tournament: Atlético de Madrid crashed out in the group stage, Real Madrid fell in the semifinals to PSG, and the growing bond between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Trump raised eyebrows, especially as they shared the VIP box during the final.

This edition was also a preview for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — set to take place across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada — with a record-breaking 48 teams and 104 matches.

Record Prizes and Unexpected Highlights

Chelsea walked away with over $115 million, including nearly $70 million just for the final. In total, FIFA distributed $525 million among all participants, plus another $475 million based on performance. One of the tournament’s most talked-about moments? The trophy being displayed in Trump Tower in New York, alongside Infantino, Ronaldo Nazário, and Eric Trump, where it was also announced that FIFA’s new headquarters would be located there.

Attendance numbers were staggering: over 2.4 million tickets sold, with an average of almost 40,000 fans per match.

Looking Ahead to 2029

While European giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and PSG stole the spotlight, there were also heartwarming surprises — like Auckland City earning a historic 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors, thanks to a goal from schoolteacher Christian Gray, netting the New Zealand side $1 million.

So far, four clubs have already qualified for the 2029 edition:

• Cruz Azul (Mexico)
• Paris Saint-Germain (France)
• Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
• Pyramids FC (Egypt)

The next tournament will feature 32 teams: 12 from UEFA, 6 from CONMEBOL, 4 from each of the other confederations, and 1 host nation. As of now, neither Real Madrid nor Barcelona have secured their spots — but they could still qualify through rankings or by winning their respective continental titles.

Will we finally get that dream Clásico in the Club World Cup? Everything is still to play for — and this journey has just begun.