ও The FIFA Club World Cup is an international men's football competition for all continental champions in FIFA. Each year, the selected teams compete for the title of the best football club in the world. In our guide below, we list all the best bookmakers for this tournament, as well as the latest odds, our top predictions, and more!
- 1 Best Betting Sites for FIFA Club World Cup
- 2 Tournament Structure for the FIFA Club World Cup
- 3 🐈FIFA Club World Cup Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions
- 4 Betting Tips for the FIFA Club World Cup
- 5 5 Reasons To Bet on the FIFA Club World Cup
- 6 𝕴FIFA Club World Cup Betting Sites with Livestreaming
- 7 Popular FIFA Club World Cup Betting Markets
- 8 History of the FIFA Club World Cup
- 9 Recent FIFA Club World Cup Winners
- 10 FIFA Club World Cup Key Stats
- 11 Similar Tournaments to the FIFA Club World Cup
- 12 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 13 FIFA Club World Cup Betting FAQs
Best Betting Sites for FIFA Club World Cup
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Tournament Structure for the FIFA Club World Cup
🐠 The FIFA Club World Cup brings together all the best club sides from each continent in a unique celebration of football. The competition’s structure is just as distinctive, with seven teams competing in a staggered knockout format.
Qualification is earned through winning various Champions Leagues:
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ജThe winners of the host nation’s top division and the OFC Champions League both qualify for the first round.
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🧔 The winners of the CONCACAF Champions league, the CAF Champions League, and the AFC Champions League qualify for the second round.
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The winners of the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Libertadores qualify for the semi-finals.
Essentially, football teams enter this tournament by having already won their continent’s club competition. The differences in the level of the tournament entered is based on the perceived difficulty💃 of those tournaments, meaning that the UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores are considered the toughest.
Notes on the 2023 qualification:
A club side from this year's host country – Wydad Casablanca of Morocco – won the CAF championship and has thus already been awarded a place in the second round. The place normally reserved for the host country will now be taken by CAF Champions League runners-up: Al Ahly.As the 2022 AFC Champions League final has been postponed to May 2023, the 2021 champions, Al-Hilal, have been given the spot.
How this works in terms of structure is as follows:
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💦There is a playoff round between the host country representative and the winner of the OFC Champions League. The winner of this match advances to the quarter-finals.
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In the quarter-final, they will be met by the winners of the CONCACAF Champions League, the CAF Champions League, and the AFC Champions League. The two winners of this round will go on to face the winner of the Copa Libertadores and the winner of the UEFA Champions League in the semi-final.
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The winners of the semi-final round will then meet in the final.
To put it simply, the winner of the OFC Champions League, for instance, would need to win four games to win this tournament, while the winner of the UEFA Champions League would only need to win two. However, this is based on the idea that the latter had a much more difficult road to qualify.
𓆉 Here’s a table to make things simpler for you:
| Round | Confederation | Club | Confederation | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playoff Round | OFC Champions League winner | Auckland City (New Zealand) | Host nation representative | Al Ahly (Egypt) |
| Quarterfinals 1 | CONCACAF Champions League winner | Seattle Sounder FC (USA) | – | Playoff Round winner |
| Quarterfinals 2 | AFC Champions League winner | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | CAF Champions League winner | Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) |
| Semi-Final 1 | – | Quarter-finals 1 – winner | UEFA Champions League winner | Real Madrid (Spain) |
| Semi-Final 2 | – | Quarter-finals 2 – Winner | Copa Libertadores winner | Flamengo (Brazil) |
| Final | – | Semi-final 1 – winner | – | Semi-final 2 – winner |
One final important thing to note is that the format of this tournament looked set to change in 2021💫, before plans were abandoned by FIFA. The tournament was supposed to be expanded to include 24 teams and take place in China.
♉ However, because of the fixture congestion that was caused by Tokyo Olympics taking place one year later than planned, FIFA announced that they would be postponing the expanded Club World Cup to possibly 2023.
♎ Under its normal tournament structure, the 2021 was then set to be hosted in Japan in late 2021, but these plans were also scrapped. In the end, FIFA announced that the 2021 Club World Cup would be held in the United Arab Emirates in February 2022.
𒁏The expansion of the Club World Cup has still not materialised. The 2022 edition will be held in February 2023 and very little is known about next year's competition. There is speculation that the expansion will be implemented in 2025.
FIFA Club World Cup Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions
The 2022 FIFA Club World Cup will be held in Morocco from 1 to 11 February 2023🐓. Reigning champions Chelsea won't be taking part, as they failed to defend their Champions League title.
FIFA Club World Cup Betting Odds 2022
Outright betting odds at the time of writing are as follows.
FIFA Club World Cup Betting Tips & Predictions 2022
✱ Although all teams participating in the competition are champions of their continent, the relative quality of clubs can vary greatly between qualifying teams.
In the entire history of the competition – since 2000 – only countries from Europe or South America have been crowned champions. Moreover, 14 of the 18 winners have been Europeanꦍ, and only five teams from outside UEFA and CONMEBOL have even made it to the final.
𝓰 That's likely to be the case again this year, with four-time Club World Cup winners Real Madrid back for the first time since 2018. Here's an overview of teams and their chances in the tournament.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to international competitions. Los Blancos are the most successful team in Europe with 14 UEFA Cup & Champions League crowns. They’ve also won the most Club World Cups (four in total)💦 – all in the space of five years.We’re predicting Real Madrid to go the distance for a 5th time – even with fixtures occurring alongside the regular league season.
Flamengo
The champions of what's considered to be the second-best continental competition, Flamengo will be competing in their second Club World Cup. 2019 ended in heartbreak for the Scarlet-Blacks, as they lost 1-0 in extra time to Liverpool.Flamengo are also favourites to make it to the final, and they'll be hoping to go one better this year. However – against possibly the greatest ‘big game’ team ever – it seems unlikely that they'll win the competition.
Al Ahly
As runners-up in the 2022 CAF Champions League, Al Ahly have taken the place of the hosts as a Moroccan club has already qualified via the main route.Al Ahly are no strangers to the tournament and have been regular participants since the competition's inception. The Egyptian outfit has finished third three times, but will have to face Real Madrid in the semi-finals this year – making it to the final would be truly astonishing.
Best of the Rest
Of the remaining teams, Al Hilal will face Wydad Casablanca in the second round. Both teams have competed twice before, with Al Hilal finishing fourth both times. It's likely that they'll finish 4th again.Auckland City are taking part in the competition for the 10th time – a tournament record. The team has only won four matches so far – three of which occurred in 2014 when they finished third. The team of amateurs pulled off some major upsets, including a win over Cruz Azul in the third-place playoff.Seattle Soundersﷺ qualified for the first time in their history and will face either Auckland City or Al Ahly. In both cases, they're tough opponents, though this may be as far as the Sounders can go.
Betting Tips for the FIFA Club World Cup
Part of the reason why FIFA Club World Cup betting is so exciting is because it’s such a unique take on international club football⛎. Few other sporting events provide a wider variety in terms of both ability as well as geographical reach.
🏅 Put it this way: in a tournament such as this, you could have Al-Ahly and Chelsea facing off in the finals. While the latter scenario is a long shot, it’s still feasible, and it’s these possibilities which create such a unique buzz.
And a unique tournament needs unique tactics, at least to a certain extent. Below, we've listed and explained our top five betting tips for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Consider the role of the underdog
♏ The mismatch of abilities often seen in these tournaments creates an interesting betting dilemma. On one hand, it is always fun to root for the underdog team, especially when you have some juicy odds at your disposal.Having said that, we would say that the reason those odds are so good is because the chances are legitimately low. Possible doesn’t mean likely. However, there’s nothing wrong with dropping a smaller bet to enjoy the spectacle of seeing how far a team can go, especially if you add accumulators into the mix.
Research the domestic leagues
This is, of course, especially the case if you are looking to back one of the sides that hold higher odds. You still need to be realistic in evaluating a team’s abilities and play style, and the best way to do that is to check out how they perform in their day jobs. Yes, a look into the domestic league statistics𒁃 from around the world can be enlightening, but does require some patience and studiousness.
Only bet on what you have the time to research
This is a follow-on from our previous point, because while researching the domestic leagues💛 as much as possible is a great idea, it can be quite a challenge. Few tournaments have you betting on teams from leagues you may not even have heard of before. Therefore, be honest with yourself, and if you simply do not have the time or willpower to make a smart bet, stick to what and who you know best.Say you have a set amount you want to bet: it would be wiser to place that money on a few markets that you understand than spreading it across many which you don’t.
Remember the knockout factor
Smart bettors know that anything can affect how a team performs, and this includes both the type and importance of an event. On this note, there’s no type of game more important or cut-throat than a knockout tournament. With that in mind, check out how the team you are betting on generally performs🦩 under similar pressure in order to get an insight on how this format may affect the results.
Utilise the betting markets available
We said that unique tactics are required for a unique tournament, but some pieces of betting advice are simply universal, and this is a great example. A variety of betting markets not only makes the best betting sites for football💜 more interesting, but also allows you to have more room to wager how you want tactically and smartly. So, utilise as many as you feel is fitting. And if you’re unsure of what kind of betting markets are available to you, we have a quick rundown of some of our favourites further down below.
FIFA Club World Cup Betting Promotions 2023
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ꦬWilliam Hill has an excellent welcome offer that is great for FIFA Club World Cup betting: £30 in free bets when you bet your first £10.
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Another great FIFA Club World Cup betting deal can be found at Unibet, who offer newcomers bet £10 get £40 in Bonuses.
5 Reasons To Bet on the FIFA Club World Cup
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This mini-competition features the best teams from across the world.
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The tournament is growing in prestige around Europe.
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The winning team gets $10 million.
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They also are awarded the FIFA Club World Championship Cup.
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And they are crowned the best team in the world!
FIFA Club World Cup Betting Sites with Livestreaming
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Ladbrokes
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Betfred
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bet365
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BoyleSports
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Betfair
Popular FIFA Club World Cup Betting Markets
One of the best things about the modern betting world is the sheer amount of options that are available💛, and the FIFA Club World Cup is one of the finest examples for exactly that.
However, as is always the case with footballᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ, there are many different markets and bet types available for Club World Cup football betting, and you may find yourself not knowing where to begin. With that in mind, we are going to take a look at our favourite betting options for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Full Time Result
We know, we know – this is an obvious choice. But for a tournament so straightforward, a betting market this simple really does feel fitting. There’s also an additional point to consider, which is that the full-time result only means the final score by the end of the 90-minute mark + injury time. This also means that if a team plans on dragging the game out longer in the tournament, then a draw may be your best choice.
Asian Handicaps
The Asian Handicapไ market puts a goal handicap on each team based on how weak or strong they are perceived to be. This is absolutely ideal for any tournament which has teams that are considered to be very far apart in terms of ability. It also allows you to watch a one-sided game but still have something on the line, making for an ideal partnership of markets here.
Double Chance
On a similar note, if you feel as though the team you are backing doesn’t have too great a chance when it comes to winning the game, you can strengthen that bet by also including the possibility of a draw. In this case, the Double Chance market is perfect for you.
Total Goals by Team
This is similar to the Asian handicap market; however, whether you pass the threshold to win your bet is only contingent on how many goals the team you back have scored🧜, and not how many their opponents have scored in return. This allows you to bet more on the kind of game you think it will be, as opposed to simply a result.
꧙ What makes this interesting in this tournament is how the pressure of it can affect a team’s firepower. This really makes you analyse the game in a new and interesting way.
Red Cards
Perfect for a left-field bet on a passionate tournament such as this, you can bet on whether you think a team will have a player sent offꦇ by the end of the match. This is a really great way of analysing a team’s aggression under pressure, and tests both your analysis of the team and the tournament as a whole.
With a straight, single legged knockout tournament, players are more likely to put it all on the line. There is also more value in red card betting in such tournaments – alternatively, you can check out yellow card and booking points betting.
History of the FIFA Club World Cup
If you feel like the FIFA Club World Cup doesn’t get the coverage it deserves, we’re inclined to agree with you. That being said, we think the reason that this tournament isn’t always covered with the detail and gravity it deserves is because it remains a very young tournament, having first been contested at the turn of the millennium.
😼 However, its origins began with tournaments like the Football World Championship in 1887, but more relevant examples include the Pequeña Copa del Mundo and the Tournoi de Paris in the 1950s. In fact, the latter, which was contested between teams from Europe and South America, was billed as being the way to crown “the best in the world”. This was won by Vasco da Gama, who shocked Real Madrid to take the title.
🌄 The Tournoi de Paris was the first international tournament that Real Madrid had not managed to win, and they didn’t exactly take it well. They demanded it be considered a friendly competition and started calling themselves world champions after winning the first Intercontinental Cup, to much controversy. FIFA claimed they could not call themselves world champions because it did not include any champions from other confederations, which, to be fair, does make a lot of sense.
FIFA would not recognise the Intercontinental Cup until Asian and African champions were included🧜. This was an issue for the Intercontinental Cup, as they desperately wanted supervision due to the increasingly aggressive play styles. This stalemate went on for decades, despite efforts from sponsors to make such an international club tournament a reality.
ღ In the 1980s, there was hope in the form of the Toyota Cup: a one-off match played in Japan. The huge amount of money invested into this project reignited hopes. Unfortunately, though, the refusal of UEFA and CONMEBOL to allow their clubs to compete in the Intercontinental Cup once again extinguished them.
🐲 The idea wouldn’t rear its head again until 1993. By this time, each confederation had a stable, well-regulated continental championship. FIFA, therefore, felt the time was right to hold such a competition, and began selecting candidates to host.
ꦡEventually, Brazil was selected, with the country making millions in television deals with 15 broadcasters across five continents. The tournament finally took place in 2000 a year later than originally planned. Vasco de Gama looked to be on the verge of repeating history, but Corinthians stole the day and the tournament, winning 4-3 on penalties.
♌ The second edition of the tournament was supposed to take place the following year. However, the collapse of FIFA’s marketing partner International Sport and Leisure meant that it had to be called off, and attempts to get it going again in 2003 also failed. At this point, the Intercontinental and Club World Championships finally merged, and the 2005 version of the FIFA Club World Cup arose from their ashes.
♐ This version was shortened to just six continental champions and had a fancy new trophy to boot. There have been minor changes since then, but things have largely remained the same.
In 2021, plans were made to increase the number of participating teams to 24. However, the competition – originally planned to be hosted by China – was cancelled due to the pandemic. FIFA is now returning to its old structure, with plans to change it in 2025.
The proposed format for 2025 is for 32 teams to competeꦅ in a group and knockout hybrid, similar to the UEFA Champions League. Many players' organisations and football associations have criticised the changes, however, as fixture congestion remains a major problem in the sport.
Recent FIFA Club World Cup Winners
| Year | Champions | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Chelsea (England) | 1-0 | Palmeiras (Brazil) |
| 2020 | Bayern Munich (Germany) | 1-0 | Tigres UANL (Mexico) |
| 2019 | Liverpool (England) | 1-0 (a.e.t) | Flamengo (Brazil) |
| 2018 | Real Madrid (Spain) | 4-1 | Al-Ain (UAE) |
| 2017 | Real Madrid (Spain) | 1-0 | Grêmio (Brazil) |
| 2016 | Real Madrid (Spain) | 4-2 (a.e.t) | Kashima Antlers (Japan) |
| 2015 | Barcelona (Spain) | 3-0 | River Plate (Argentina) |
| 2014 | Real Madrid (Spain) | 2-0 | San Lorenzo (Argentina) |
| 2013 | Bayern Munich (Germany) | 2-0 | Raja Casablanca (Morocco) |
| 2012 | Corinthians (Brazil) | 1-0 | Chelsea (England) |
| 2011 | Barcelona (Spain) | 4-0 | Santos (Brazil) |
| 2010 | Inter Milan (Italy) | 3-0 | TP Mazembe (DR Congo) |
| 2009 | Barcelona (Spain) | 2-1 (a.e.t) | Estudiantes LP (Argentina) |
| 2008 | Manchester United (England) | 1-0 | LDU Quito (Ecuador) |
| 2007 | Milan (Italy) | 4-2 | Boca Juniors (Argentina) |
FIFA Club World Cup Key Stats
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The European football governing body, UEFA, has provided the most winners over the years.
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Every Club World Cup winner came from one of five countries: Spain (seven wins), Brazil (four wins), England (three wins), Germany (two wins) or Italy (two wins).
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🌼 Real Madrid have won this tournament the most times and have lifted the trophy on four occasions. Bayern Munich and Corinthians are the only other teams to have won more than once.
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Winners of the Club World Cup have only ever come from Europe or South America.
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Auckland City from New Zealand is an amateur team that has qualified for the competition 10 times – a tournament record! In 2014, they even reached the semi-finals and finished in third place.
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✨ Japan has hosted the Club World Cup eight times. The United Arab Emirates have hosted five times and Morocco three times.
Similar Tournaments to the FIFA Club World Cup
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14th June – 14th July 2024, UEFA European Championships:🃏 The 17th renewal of this European football mega-event will be held in Germany in 2024.
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14th June – 13th July 2024, Copa America:꧟ South America’s continental championship – held every four years. The host nation is still yet to be announced.
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Ongoing, Champions League:🌼 The biggest club competition in Europe, running from September to June. The winners are eligible to participate in the Club World Cup.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
✃ It may seem strange that we think the FIFA Club World Cup deserves more recognition than it currently receives, considering it is already a pretty massive event. However, we would like to see it recognised in the same manner as the World Cup itself due to its level of prestige and competition. On top of that, it is also one of the most interesting events in the world to bet on, helped in no small part by the incredible number of betting markets that are available.
FIFA Club World Cup Betting FAQs
Check out Betfair, bet365 and the Paddy Power bookmakerꦦ for the best FIFA Club World Cup betting experience.
🍌The FIFA Club World Cup will be broadcast on the BBC in the United Kingdom.
🍃The FIFA Club World Cup began in 2000. However, various versions of a football club world championship actually began as far back as 1887.
♓That has changed throughout the years, but the 2022 edition will include seven teams.
ওThe next edition of the tournament will take place in February 2023 in Morocco, starting on the 1st and finishing on the 11th.
🌠Chelsea won the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, beating Brazilian club Palmeiras 2-1 after extra time.