Is the newly expanded tournament a waste of time or an interesting idea that brings the world together?
There are plenty of reasons to be down on the Club World Cup. The players were already exhausted and overworked; its evolution into a 32-team tournament has been drive by a desire for profit; it has been played in temperatures that make football almost unbearable; the stadiums have often been half empty; and it has given Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino an opportunity to fluff their already inflated egos.
But there is something to be said for a competition that brings together teams, and fans, from across the globe every four years. Supporters from around the world, especially Brazil, have lit up the show. And the underdogs have shown up. Flamengo stunned Chelsea; Botafogo shocked PSG; Al-Hilal sent Manchester City home. There have been great games, goals and performances, with PSG putting on a show for the ages in the semi-finals as they hammered Real Madrid.