If you only saw the final score of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup this year – Chelsea 3, Paris Saint-Germain 0 – you’d think the tournament ended like most European football matchups. But if you were actually there, standing outside the MetLife Stadium in the 104 degree heat, weaving through taqueros or even sitting through the phenomenal halftime show, then you would know the real stars weren’t just on the field. The real stars were actually the fans. The Latino fans.
Latino Fans Owned the FIFA Club World Cup Final
Look, there’s no doubt this year’s FIFA Club World Cup marked a seismic shift in the global world of futbol. This tournament was the first of its kind, held across the U.S. in a 32-team spectacle that tested the waters ahead of next year’s highly anticipated World Cup. On paper, the final was a classic Euro-elite showdown, with England’s Chelsea club teaming up against Paris Saint-Germain, who recently came off of their massive UEFA Champions League win in Europe (the first in the French club team’s history). But looking a little deeper, it was easy to see the heart of Latin America beating in the bleachers.
Perhaps the biggest personification of this was during halftime – which, who was expecting a halftime show for this? Not me, but I’m certainly not complaining. The Colombian king himself J Balvin eventually sauntered out to break up the event, bringing the house down with a short set that included some of his mega hits like “Mi Gente” and “Ay Vamos.” Balvin was quickly supplemented by rapper Doja Cat, and later Coldplay, who made a surprise appearance with their 2010s hit “A Sky Full of Stars.”
But we’re biased, so we’re going to say it was definitely Balvin who stole that halftime show, because nothing beats a good perreo – especially when you’re just watching a majority of white guys run back and forth kicking a ball for 90 minutes.
But in terms of the actual match, Chelsea took care of business early. Palmer’s goals came quick and sharp, while João Pedro added one more goal just before halftime, really blowing PSG’s chances out of the water. The French squad never recovered.
In the second half, frustration bubbled over. PSG midfielder João Neves yanked Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella by the hair and got himself sent off (yikes). Then, at the final whistle, cameras caught PSG coach Luis Enrique shoving João Pedro. It was messy. It was tense. You could even say it was a little bit telenovela…just how we Latinos like our futbol matches. Then of course, who could forget when President Donald Trump found his way into the mix of a celebratory Chelsea team … but we won’t get into that.
A Successful Test Run?
So inquiring minds want to know: all in all, was this a successful test run ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Maybe so. As a Miami native, I can say it certainly looked a lot better than the chaos that ensued at the Hard Rock Stadium for last year’s Copa America finale, where everyone and their mother tried to sneak in (yes, even through the vents) to get a shot at seeing Colombia and Argentina go head-to-head. But also, I get it – Shakira was headlining the halftime show that night.
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And let’s be real, with the state of this country’s immigration crackdown, a lot of Latinos had anxiety about what security would look like heading to stadiums across the nation for this year’s tournament. But thankfully, no major reports reveal any of that took place, meaning it looks like FIFA leaned into their word to protect their fans.
So if FIFA wanted a trial run for 2026, they got their answer: it is possible to host the World Cup in the U.S. next year with virtually no major issues. But a lot can happen in a year.
What’s for certain is that for a lot of Latino families, especially in the U.S., futbol isn’t a trend or a TikTok moment, but a cultural connection. It’s shouting at a Telemundo commentator on Sunday mornings. It’s the joy (and anxiety) of a last-minute goal and the heartbreak of penalty kicks. It’s your tio talking about Messi like he raised him personally (and we should mention that Messi did in fact lead Inter Miami very far this tournament).
So when FIFA decided to turn this tournament into a dry run for the World Cup, we didn’t need an invite. We were already right at home.
This was a final where fútbol met familia, and global sport finally admitted whose energy makes it spin. The sport may come from Europe, but the heart? The soul? The ratings?
That’s all Latino.
