The soccer season has come to an end, but fans of the sport can rest easy as the FIFA Club World Cup is just around the corner, and its new 32-team format is bringing a lot of excitement.
The world championship will take place across the United States from June 14 to July 13. The spotlight will be on none other than the best teams and players in the world, including the recent Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain.
With 32 teams participating, the possibilities are endless, but a few clubs are already beginning to set themselves apart as early favorites.
Find my FIFA Club World Cup predictions, picks and best bets below.
FIFA Club World Cup Best Bets
- Paris Saint-Germain Outright Winner
- Atlético Madrid to Reach Semifinals
- River Plate to Qualify for Second Round
FIFA Club World Cup Predictions
Paris Saint-Germain Outright Winner +450
I don’t think there’s much debate as to why I believe Paris Saint-Germain is my pick to win the FIFA Club World Cup. The recent Champions League and Ligue 1 winners were the best team of the semester — not just because they claimed Europe’s top club title, but because they truly displayed a high level of play, breaking down every defense they faced.
Anchored at the back by Marquinhos, PSG boasts a rock-solid defense featuring Willian Pacho and Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal; two aggressive full-backs who constantly push forward in Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi; a midfield that defends, creates, and dictates the tempo, led by Vitinha; and a front line that shakes off defenders and guarantees goals: Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Bradley Barcola.
With this level of play, Luis Enrique’s PSG has everything it takes to win the FIFA Club World Cup. However, they’ll also need to manage the challenge of making sure all this quality doesn’t turn into pressure on the team.
Atlético Madrid to Reach Semifinals +225
Los Colchoneros are always seen as the underdogs in international tournaments, yet they always manage to make headlines by eliminating a favorite or reaching the final stages. Diego Simeone’s work at Atlético de Madrid may not appeal to many soccer lovers, but there’s no denying that it gets results.
This past season, Aleti took a step forward in quality, successfully filling key positions — striker, midfielder, and right winger — with Julián Álvarez, Rodrigo Riquelme, and Giuliano Simeone, respectively.
Led on the pitch by the iconic Antoine Griezmann, Simeone’s Atleti will once again try to make an impact and play a leading role in this FIFA Club World Cup in their usual underdog role. I truly believe it’s possible to see them in the Final Four and knocking out more than one serious title contender on their way there.
River Plate to Qualify for Second Round -110
South America doesn't have it easy in this FIFA Club World Cup, but Marcelo Gallardo's River Plate has the least difficult path in the Group Stage. First, they will face Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, and on Matchday 2, they'll play their crucial match against Mexico’s Monterrey. The last game of this initial stage will be against the Champions League runner-up, Inter Milan, so the first two matches are vital for Los Millonarios.
Despite being eliminated early in the last Apertura Playoffs, Gallardo’s team has been steadily improving over the past six months, finding their best form after defeating Boca Juniors in the Argentine Superclásico.
Los Millonarios boast a squad full of experienced players like Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Acuña, Maximiliano Meza, and Nacho Fernández, who surround the 17-year-old wonderkid Franco Mastantuono — a rising star who has already caught the attention of European giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
