The expanded Club World Cup kicked off in Miami with big crowds, festive vibes, and the buzz of "Messi mania" fueling early excitement. Despite initial concerns, fans filled stadiums, especially to see Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, who drew 61,000 for their goalless match against Al-Ahly.

While the tournament got a strong start, Bayern Munich’s 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City exposed a stark quality gap among teams. Still, vibrant support, especially from South American fans like Boca Juniors’ loyal base, created a World Cup-like atmosphere.

Messi's global appeal, backed by a US$1 billion streaming deal with DAZN and support from Saudi investors, is at the heart of FIFA’s push to grow the tournament's reach. With a US$1 billion prize pool and US$125 million for the winner, top clubs are taking it seriously.

Despite some locals being unaware of the tournament, FIFA is optimistic after a successful opening weekend. But concerns remain over unbalanced matches as top European sides dominate the competition.