2026 is going to be a massive year for soccer in America.
They co-host the World Cup, but there’s some great action on the way this summer.
From June 14 to July 13, it’s the FIFA Club World Cup.
Some of the top games, including the final, will be played at the MetLife Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey.
Can European clubs continue to dominate this competition?
The current holders of this trophy are English Premier League side Manchester City.
This event will attract a large number of bets, and City is the current second favourite at +470 to retain the trophy.
However, this is a very different tournament.
In recent years, just seven clubs have been participating, and the competition took a week.
This year sees 32 participants and the action will be keeping fans enthralled for a month.
It’s a competition that has been dominated by European countries.
Of the last 17 winners, 16 have come from Europe.
The last non-European winners were Brazil’s Corinthians in 2012.
The 32 clubs have been drawn into eight groups of four.
To qualify for the knockout stages, a club must finish in the top two in their group.
Unlike in some tournaments of this nature, there are no qualifying positions for third-placed teams.
As we’ve mentioned, the holders, Manchester City, are the current second favourites.
They have had a troubled season, though, and are no longer Premier League champions.
City also failed to surpass the last 16 of this season’s Champions League.
Erling Haaland is expected to be back playing for them after time on the injury list.
Who are the favourites to win the FIFA Club World Cup?
Five-time winners Real Madrid from Spain have odds of +380.
Just as in the Champions League, the La Liga club has won this trophy more times than anyone else.
The top seven in the betting to win this tournament are all from Europe.
Sportsbooks also fancy the chances of Bayern Munich (+600) who are the German Bundesliga champions and have the high-scoring English forward Harry Kane.
The other English representatives are the American-owned Chelsea (+1000 to win the trophy), but there’s no place for Premier League champions Liverpool.
They have not been the most consistent of clubs, though.
French champions PSG are +1200 to win their first FIFA Club World Cup.
They are strong contenders and are in a tough group with Atletico Madrid who are +1600 to win this trophy.
Also in their group are one of the two American clubs who are taking part, Seattle Sounders.
We’ll look at their chances pretty soon.
Other European contenders include fellow Italians, such as Juventus and Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, who are both +2600.
Dortmund will be playing Fluminese from Brazil at the MetLife Stadium on June 17.
This is a match in Group F, which also includes Ulsan HD from South Korea and the South African champions.
Dortmund were Champions League quarter-finalists this season and are -185 to beat the Brazilians.
Fluminese will become familiar with the MetLife Stadium.
They also take on Ulsan HD there on June 21.
If it isn’t a European club that wins the trophy, it could well be a Brazilian team.
According to NJ sportsbooks, their best hopes are Palmeiras at +2600, Botafogo at +2800, and Flamengo at +3300, with the bet365 NJ bonus of $150 (code USB365).
They faced a challenging task in giving Brazil their first winner since 2012.
It’s in the knockout stages of this tournament when most focus will be placed on New Jersey.
One of the quarter-finals will be played there on July 5, and it could feature favourites Real Madrid, Fluminese, or Dortmund.
Both the semi-finals and final will be played at the MetLife Stadium.
Could a club from the USA still be in the tournament at that stage?
Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami are the two MLS clubs in this tournament.
They could even meet in the last 16.
It’s looking difficult for Seattle though and they are +8500 to win the cup.
In Group B, they have to face PSG, Atletico Madrid, and Botafogo, and it will take a massive achievement for them to finish in the top two.
Their first match is against Botafogo, and NJ sportsbooks have them at +430 to win that match, with Botafogo at -185 to defeat them.
Inter Miami are in Group A alongside Palmeiras, Porto and Al-Ahly.
Lionel Messi will relish being back in a major international tournament.
They are +3800 to win this competition but do look to have a good chance of reaching the knockout stages.
Palmeiras will be a tough team to beat, but they could do well against their two other opponents.
The first group match will be vital for them.
They take on Al-Ahly and are -125 to win that match.
We’ve never seen a club tournament like this before.
32 clubs from around the globe are battling it out to become world champions.
It’ll be great games galore and plenty of betting opportunities! Who will you be backing?
