Fresh off Chelsea’s triumph in the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup—a global spectacle that united champions from every continent—defender Levi Colwill dropped a bombshell: 'In the future, this will be bigger than the Champions League.' Bold? Absolutely. But is he onto something?
“In the future, this will be bigger than the Champions League.”
A bold statement — and one that’s sparked immediate debate among fans and pundits alike. But is he reaching? Or is the Club World Cup genuinely on track to dethrone Europe’s elite competition?
Levi Colwill thinks the Club World Cup will be bigger than the Champions League 😳 pic.twitter.com/k76CjBBnNV
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 14, 2025
The New Club World Cup Has Arrived
Hosted in the summer of 2025, the revamped Club World Cup made its mark as a true global spectacle. Featuring 32 of the world’s top clubs in a month-long tournament, it combined group stages and knockout rounds to deliver high-stakes, high-quality football on a worldwide scale.
This wasn’t the old, overlooked version Europe barely acknowledged.
This was the dawn of FIFA’s bold new era — a reimagined Club World Cup, uniting champions from every continent in a format that felt more like a World Cup for clubs than ever before.
It’s no longer a formality — it’s a serious global competition, and Chelsea just won its first edition.
Why Colwill Might Actually Be Right
As outlandish as his comment may sound to Champions League loyalists, Colwill could be on to something. Here’s why:
- 🌍 Global Reach – The new Club World Cup isn’t just a European affair. It brings together fans from every footballing continent, creating a truly worldwide stage that the Champions League — still largely Euro-centric — can’t fully match.
- 🏆 Prestige in the Making – It lacks the decades of tradition, sure — but every iconic trophy had to start somewhere. With its new format, top clubs now have genuine motivation to win it, and with that comes the chance to build legacy.
- 📈 Bigger Audience, Bigger Stakes – The inaugural tournament drew massive global attention. With FIFA investing heavily in broadcast rights, prize money, and presentation, the Club World Cup is being positioned as football’s next premium product.
Champions League vs Club World Cup: Can It Really Rival It?
Let’s be real — the Champions League is still the undisputed pinnacle of club football. Its consistency, history, and iconic moments make it the most prestigious annual competition in the world.
But the new Club World Cup brings something UEFA simply can’t offer:
A truly global proving ground. South American flair vs European dominance. African underdogs vs Asian giants. Every match offers a fresh, unpredictable clash of footballing cultures.
And unlike the Champions League, which runs every year, the Club World Cup is held once every four years — just like the World Cup. That infrequency makes every edition more exclusive, more anticipated, and arguably, more prestigious.
Plus, qualifying is far more difficult. Clubs don’t get in just by finishing top four — they need to win continental titles over a multi-year span. That barrier to entry raises the level and filters for true champions.
Colwill isn’t saying the Club World Cup is better yet — he’s saying its ceiling is higher, and in time, it could become the ultimate prize in world club football.
And honestly? That’s a fair take.
Final Verdict: Ambitious? Definitely. Delusional? Not at All.
Levi Colwill’s comment may have raised eyebrows, but writing it off as naive misses the bigger picture: the football landscape is shifting — fast.
The new-look Club World Cup is no longer a token tournament. With its expanded format, global reach, and strict qualification standards, it now demands attention. It’s only held once every four years, making each edition more exclusive, more prestigious, and harder to win than most domestic or continental titles.
It still trails the Champions League in legacy and drama — for now. But with FIFA’s full backing, elite clubs taking it seriously, and global fans tuning in, the Club World Cup has officially entered the conversation as football’s next great prize.
It may not be bigger than the Champions League yet — but it’s no longer a side note.
It’s a statement.
