The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States, is embracing a bold and entertainment-driven approach with unique elements inspired by the NBA.
Players and managers will be interviewed live during halftime of matches, a first for a FIFA-sanctioned tournament.
The interviews will be conducted by DAZN, aiming to bring fans closer to the emotions and insights of the match as they unfold.
In another 'entertainment-driven twist,' the opening matches of the tournament will feature NBA-style team entrances.
Each starting player will be introduced one by one by a stadium announcer, walking onto the pitch under the spotlight in front of a global audience.
The team captain will be the last to enter, making for a dramatic entrance—in the case for Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Lionel Messi was introduced last in the tournament opener. Referees are also said to wear cameras during the match.
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❗️According to multiple sources, Club World Cup will have:
- Half-time interviews- Referees wearing Body Cams
- Announcement of starters before every match, like in the NBA pic.twitter.com/gg3hIOgH0w
— The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) June 14, 2025
These innovations reflect a broader push by FIFA and U.S. organizers to blend sport and spectacle, using the global platform of the Club World Cup to introduce players to new audiences in a more engaging and theatrical fashion.
