Previously, the Club World Cup featured only 7 teams. However, this year, the tournament expanded to 32 teams. Apart from the host nation's representative, Inter Miami of the United States, the remaining teams (12 from Europe, 4 from Asia, 4 from Africa, 4 from CONCACAF, 6 from South America, and 1 from Oceania) are champions of their respective regional tournaments and top-ranked teams from each continent.

In contrast, the Champions League only includes top European clubs.

Colwill celebrates winning the Club World Cup after Chelsea's 3-0 victory over PSG on the evening of 13/7. _Photo: AFP_

Furthermore, the frequency of the two tournaments differs significantly. The Champions League is an annual event, while the Club World Cup, like the national team World Cup, takes place every four years.

"This is the biggest title I've ever won," said Chelsea center-back Colwill after their 3-0 victory over PSG in the Club World Cup final on the evening of 13/7. "The Club World Cup will be bigger than the Champions League, and we are the first champions of this new format."

Initially, the Club World Cup faced criticism from several experts. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp even called it the worst idea ever. However, other prominent figures, including former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, hold a contrasting view. The Club World Cup's difficult beginnings mirror those of the national team World Cup in 1930. Many European nations declined to travel to Uruguay due to the economic crisis and the daunting journey by ship across the ocean. Yet, the World Cup eventually gained global appeal and became every player's dream.

Chelsea qualified for the recent tournament as the 2021 Champions League winners. Colwill and his teammates secured the title with a 3-0 win over PSG in the final. This result forces a reassessment of Chelsea, a team weakened over the past three years due to changes in ownership and team-building strategies.

"At the start of the tournament, when I talked about winning, people looked at me like I was crazy," Colwill said. "So, I'll say the same thing going into the Premier League and Champions League next season. This victory is a statement. Our plan is to win the biggest trophies for Chelsea."

Last season, Chelsea also won the Conference League, Europe's third-tier competition. This achievement makes them the only club to have won every international club title: the Club World Cup, Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and UEFA Super Cup.

Chelsea will have a three-week break before returning to prepare for their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on 17/8. They also qualified for the Champions League after finishing 4th in the 2024-2025 Premier League season.

Thanh Quy (according to ESPN)