With Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain bringing the curtain down on the 2024/25 European football season with their UEFA Champions League final in Munich, all roads now lead to the United States. On June 14th, 32 of the best teams on the planet will head Stateside to contest the FIFA Club World Cup. Between the curtain raiser in Miami and the July 13th final at MetLife Stadium, those 32 entrants will be reduced to just one world champion.
If you thought that the teams competing this summer wouldn’t take the tournament that seriously after a grueling domestic campaign, think again. FIFA has slapped an eye-watering prize pot on the competition, and lots of teams will be eager to take at least some of it home.
So, who are the most likely teams to do so? Well, Real Madrid is the team that online gambling sites make the one to beat in the States over the next six weeks or so. The latest online gambling at Bovada odds currently make Los Blancos a 9/2 favorite to lift the trophy, closely followed by the likes of Manchester City and Bayern Munich. But inside the teams themselves, which specific players are the ones to watch out for in the Land of the Free at the Club World Cup?
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Nothing tells just how seriously clubs are taking the upcoming tournament quite like Real Madrid’s signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool. Los Blancos were due to receive the England international on a free transfer on June 30th following the expiry of his contract at Anfield. However, the Spanish giants have paid a whopping €10m just to receive him one month early.
🚨 OFFICIAL: Trent Alexander-Arnold joins Real Madrid. pic.twitter.com/sxw7bhQmE9
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) May 30, 2025
To put that into perspective, the 26-year-old was already set to feature in Real Madrid’s knockout games, but not the group stage. As such, Los Blancos have essentially paid the transfer fee just to have Trent for an extra three games, and of course, to have him fully integrated into their squad by the time the action ramps up.
The powers that be at the Bernabeu understood just how important Alexander-Arnold was to their plans. Veteran right back and captain Dani Carvajal has been sidelined with an ACL injury for most of the season, and while fellow veteran Lucas Vazquez has stood in for his captain, he has endured some difficult times on the pitch this term. As such, the Liverpool academy product strengthens Real’s one weak spot, and he could be the addition that propels new manager Xabi Alonso to his first trophy in charge of the club, barely a month into his reign.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest player who’s ever lived. Throughout his stint in Europe, he transformed Barcelona into a dynasty, winning three Champions League titles and a bucketload of Spanish titles. Six months on from his crowning moment of leading Argentina to 2022 FIFA World Cup glory, the former PSG star made a surprise move to the United States to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
Throughout his time in the States, Messi has scored goals aplenty. He led the team to the Leagues Cup just weeks into his contract, before helping the South Beach outfit win the MLS Supporters’ Shield – awarded to the regular season table-toppers – in record-breaking fashion. Now, at the age of 37, he is aiming for one last hurrah on the elite stage.
Messi’s quest to win every single soccer trophy in existence continues 😂🐐 https://t.co/I1m79yEKuY
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) December 6, 2024
Miami is by no means one of the favorites this summer. In fact, they’re a rank outsider to even qualify from their group. But they will have home support on their side.
Inter Miami is one of just two confirmed American teams that will be playing at the tournament that their country is hosting this summer. They will open the tournament at the stunning Hard Rock Stadium in Miami against Egyptian outfit Al Ahly, and Messi will be out to prove that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. Alongside former Barcelona cohorts Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, Messi will be aiming to lead his side into the knockout round at the very least.
Rodri
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been instrumental for both club and country. He scored the winning goal in the Blues’ only UEFA Champions League success two years ago, before becoming a talismanic figure in Spain’s run to European Championship glory last summer. He was expected to shine for City once again in the 2024/25 season, but things would take a disastrous turn early on.
In an October clash at home to Arsenal, the Spaniard was crocked with a devastating injury that saw him ruled out for the entire season. As a result, City imploded. Their title challenge faltered almost immediately, while they suffered a disappointing early exit in the Champions League as well. Now, however, Rodri is back, and his return couldn’t have come at a better time.
The upcoming Club World Cup represents City’s final chance at silverware this season. If they come up empty-handed, it will mark their first campaign in eight years in which they have ended a season without a trophy. However, with Rodri back in the starting lineup, Pep Guardiola’s men will be revitalized, and expect to see him breaking up opposition attacks and orchestrating attacks from deep all summer long.