The expanded Club World Cup has kicked off with healthy crowds, "Messi mania" and a festival atmosphere in Miami, giving an early vindication to world football body FIFA after fears of empty stands and global disinterest.

The FIFA Club World Cup opener was a scoreless draw, lacking a magical Lionel Messi moment in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled tongiht at Hard Rock Stadium featuring Inter Miami FC and global star Lionel Messi.

Thirty-two clubs from around the world will compete in the Club World Cup, which begins Saturday night when Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami hosts Al Ahly, the champions of the Egyptian Premier League. Messi and Miami are +100 favorites on the three-way moneyline for Saturday’s curtain-raiser.

The expanded FIFA Club World Cup has kicked off with healthy crowds, “Messi mania” and a festival atmosphere in Miami, giving an early vindication to world football body FIFA after fears of empty stands and global disinterest.

"CBP will be suited and booted," the organization wrote June 4 on X, "ready to provide security for the first round of games."From NFL plays to college sports scores, all the top sports news you need to know every day.

Is Kylian Mbappé playing in the 2025 Club World Cup? Find out if the Real Madrid superstar will feature in FIFA’s revamped 32-team tournament this summer.

Los Angeles FC striker Olivier Giroud says the FIFA Club World Cup is a chance to showcase Major League Soccer as the tournament kicks off this weekend.Giroud said LAFC will kick off the tournament against his former club Chelsea on Monday as "underdogs",