Just showing up pays off—at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, clubs are cashing in big before the first whistle even blows. The entry check alone could make history.

A detailed look at the figures behind the Fifa Club World Cup, and how investment from Saudi Arabia appears to be underpinning the tournament.

In principle there ought to be nothing particularly contentious about a competition to decide the best club side in the world. Between 1960 and 2004 the champions of Europe and South America faced off for bragging rights,