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PSG emerged as a force in world football. |
Behind the cheers and bright lights at MetLife Stadium lies a stark truth: modern football, at its highest, is a playground for the rich.
Money is the starting point - and also the destination.
PSG and Chelsea are not just the two finalists for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. They have been the two biggest spenders in the world for the past three seasons.
Since the summer of 2022, the duo has spent a total of nearly $3 billion on the transfer market. In the 2025 season alone, PSG spent more than $500 million to bring in 11 new players, while Chelsea is not far behind with hundreds of millions of dollars for names like Joao Pedro or Jamie Gittens - who have just joined and immediately brought efficiency.
Luis Enrique said PSG were successful because "we worked together, with a collective philosophy". But he also admitted frankly: "PSG is a place where budget is not a problem. We can buy whoever we want."
That one line sums up the essence of PSG’s success. Philosophy, system, tactics – all are important. But without the hundreds of millions of dollars to recruit Joao Neves, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Ousmane Dembélé, those “philosophies” will remain on paper.
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Chelsea have also been on a shopping spree recently. |
Chelsea are no different. After American billionaire Todd Boehly took over from Roman Abramovich, the London club entered a period of "buying without thinking", with a series of deals considered to be overspending. But wherever they went wrong, they bought more.
Enzo Fernandez slips? Pay more. Mudryk fades? Add João Pedro. And the cycle continues. Football is no longer a game of patience – it’s a game of… constant recharging.
Ironically, FIFA, the organization that always advocates for fairness and global football development, has created a playing field where financial disparities are legalized. The $1 billion prize package for the Club World Cup is divided largely on "commercial criteria". The result? 12 European clubs receive $623 million ; the remaining 20 clubs - from Asia, Africa, South America - share a mere $377 million .
In other words, the Club World Cup is not about narrowing the gap between rich and poor, but about consolidating financial power. Teams that have attempted miracles – like Fluminense or Al Ahly – have been eliminated early. They don’t lack the will, they just lack the money.
22 names on the field, 20 bought with billions
According to statistics, 20/22 players starting in this final match were transfer contracts. That is clear evidence of the cruel rule of top football: to win, you must first buy a winning squad.
Injury? Have money to buy a replacement. Transfer mistake? Have money to buy more. Teams like PSG and Chelsea may fail temporarily, but with huge cash flows from the national investment fund (PSG) or American financial groups (Chelsea), failure is never a dead end.
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The FIFA Club World Cup is a place where the rich and poor are clearly divided. |
No matter who wins in the early morning of July 14, one thing is clear: the cup will belong to the richer one. And next year, it will most likely be the same two names, because modern football has entered a closed loop: Rich - Buy players - Win - Richer - Buy more.
The rest of the teams – from South America to Asia – are just a backdrop to the game. They can fight hard, create surprises for a while, but they cannot compete for long without billion-dollar pockets. And FIFA, instead of balancing the game, seems to be continuing to pour fuel on the fire of injustice.
The 2025 Club World Cup is not just a match, but the truest reflection of modern football: where the ultimate tactic is no longer pressing or ball possession - but the power of money.
Source: https://znews.vn/psg-gap-chelsea-la-tran-chung-ket-ty-usd-post1568309.html
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