Every soccer fan is watching the countdown to this summer’s revamped FIFA Club World Cup – but for fans in the U.S., the stakes feel even higher. For the first time ever, the tournament will take place on American soil, and with it comes an opportunity that goes well beyond 90 minutes.
This isn’t just about hosting. It’s about showing the world – and American sports fans – that U.S. soccer belongs in the global conversation.
Big names, bigger expectations
The tournament will feature the biggest names in club football: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Flamengo – the list reads like a Champions League bracket. And now, MLS teams are getting a seat at the table. Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders are already locked in. And as of this week, Los Angeles FC might be joining them.
After Club León was disqualified due to a conflict of interest – their ownership overlapping with Pachuca, another club already qualified – LAFC has been handed a second chance. They’ll play a one-match playoff against Club América to decide who will fill the vacated spot. The winner joins a brutal Group D, alongside Flamengo, Chelsea, and Espérance de Tunis.
There are no easy groups in this tournament. That’s the point. This is the first time the Club World Cup will follow a true World Cup format – group stages of four, with the top two advancing to the knockouts. It's modeled after the Champions League, Copa Libertadores, and other elite continental competitions. Only this time, it’s global.
And that’s where the pressure comes in.
MLS takes its seat at the global table
For MLS teams – and for American soccer as a whole – this isn’t just a tournament. It’s a spotlight. Playing against the most famous and decorated clubs in the world, U.S. teams don’t just have to show up. They have to compete. They have to prove that they can play at the same level, with the same intensity, against the same pressure.
That starts with Seattle and Inter Miami. Seattle has long been one of the most consistent and tactically mature teams in the league. Inter Miami, with Lionel Messi leading the charge, brings international attention by default – but attention won’t be enough. They’ll need results.
And now, possibly, LAFC. The team that has set domestic standards for depth and consistency could end up facing Chelsea and Flamengo in meaningful matches. That’s not just a dream – that’s a challenge. And if they win their playoff against América, it becomes reality.
The goal? At least one MLS team advancing out of the group stage. Two would be better. A U.S. team making a run deep into the knockout rounds? That would be transformative.
Because this is about more than just soccer. It’s about what the game could become here. Every strong performance by an American club will build interest, credibility, and respect. Every goal, every tackle, every win – they’ll all shape the way the country sees the sport.
So as kickoff approaches, the message is simple: this is a new chapter. For global soccer. For U.S. soccer. And for fans here, it starts right at home.