The 2025 Club World Cup final is set: Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain will face off this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in a match that, beyond the spectacle, confirms a trend that has been consolidating for years. Elite football is played in Europe—and only there.

With a resounding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid, PSG not only secured their place in the final of the revamped tournament, but also sent a clear message: there is no room for surprises. “It is a beautiful victory,” said coach Luis Enrique after the match. He added, “We are one game away from making history for Paris and for a French club by winning every competition we have taken part in.”

The Parisian team arrives at this point after winning Ligue 1, the French Cup, and—above all—the UEFA Champions League, with a historic 5-0 win over Inter. If they win on Sunday, they will complete a perfect season. And it’s no miracle: it’s the result of a structure that functions like a well-oiled machine, built on years of continuity, massive financial backing, and a clear footballing philosophy.

The paradox of a global tournament

The Club World Cup, relaunched this year with 32 teams, was presented by FIFA as the beginning of a “new era” meant to include clubs from all over the world. But in reality, the tournament has ended up exposing—and even amplifying—the inequalities that exist between regions. Far from leveling the playing field, what we’ve seen in the United States is a competition dominated by the usual suspects.

Only one South American club reached the semifinals. And in the final, for the first time in this expanded format, there’s not a single trace of Latin American football. Fluminense, the last team standing, was soundly defeated by Chelsea, while other clubs from the region failed to make it past the group stage.

More than football: a model of power

As we noted in a previous analysis, the gap between Europe and Latin America in club football is not just athletic: it’s economic, institutional, and cultural. The difference lies in resources, but also in the kind of project. Europe operates as a globalized industry—scouting talent from around the world, generating billions in broadcasting rights, and upholding professional standards that remain out of reach for many countries in the Global South.

Luis Enrique explained it clearly: while he has spent two years working with his squad, Xabi Alonso had just taken over as Real Madrid’s coach. “The two situations cannot be compared,” he said. That comparison holds even more weight when applied to Latin American clubs, which not only face smaller budgets but also shorter planning cycles, rosters that change every six months, and unstable management structures.

Dembélé, a symbol of a globalized system

Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé, the standout performer against Madrid and a Ballon d’Or candidate according to his coach, is another symbol of this system. He arrived at the tournament nursing an injury, yet still shone in the semifinals. He now has 35 goals in 52 matches since last August. But beyond the numbers, he represents the kind of player who epitomizes European supremacy: a talent partially developed in France and fully optimized in a club that can surround him with stars, strategy, technology, and time.

Luis Enrique did not hide his admiration: “The players who can win the Ballon d'Or have to not just score goals, but help their team to win trophies. And Dembélé does those things more than any other player.”

But praising the forward also highlights a deeper problem: in a tournament that is supposed to showcase diversity, all the stars shine in the same sky. The best African, South American, and Asian talents are in Europe. The rest of the world has become a talent pool—not true competition.

What about Latin America?

Latin American clubs remain factories of talent and passion. But they have less and less room to compete at the highest level. The difference is no longer just about money—it’s about vision. While Europe strengthens a model based on structure, investment, governance, and entertainment, Latin America still relies on mystique, history, and resilience.

And while that has been enough to keep the flame alive, it’s no longer sufficient to win global titles. Palmeiras, River Plate, Flamengo, or Boca Juniors are still regional powerhouses, but far from European standards. Not because they lack quality, but because they lack conditions.

A final says more than a thousand words

The Chelsea vs PSG final is no accident. It is the predictable outcome of a system where Europe plays with an advantage. It’s not just that they win more—it’s that they compete among themselves. And when the doors are opened to the rest of the world, what we see is the distance.

The Club World Cup was supposed to be a window into global football. But for now, it looks more like a mirror reflecting inequalities. And while Europe celebrates yet another dream final, Latin America is left watching—the world's best show, from the stands.

How do we get our place back?