The expanded Club World Cup has kicked off with healthy crowds, "Messi mania" and a festival atmosphere in Miami, giving an early vindication to world football body FIFA after fears of empty stands and global disinterest.

The inaugural expanded summer Club World Cup is officially now underway as 32 teams face off across four weeks in the USA.Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami kicked off the tournament against Al Ahly of Egypt in an entertaining goalless draw on Saturday night,

It’s taken time for the Club World Cup to build brand awareness, but opening weekend drew huge crowds in Miami, NYC and Los Angeles.

Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday.

Seattle soccer fans will have a chance to watch 17-year-old star Franco Mastantuono when River Plate faces the Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday at Lumen Field.

Two of the best teams in their respective leagues meet up on Monday in Atlanta, as Chelsea and Los Angeles FC meet up in the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup. The FIFA Club World Cup is an event held every two years that pits some of the best clubs from around the globe against one another in a unique competition that comes after every team’s domestic and continental seasons have wrapped up.

The expanded Club World Cup has kicked off with healthy crowds, "Messi mania" and a festival atmosphere in Miami, giving an early vindication to world football body FIFA after fears of empty stands and global disinterest.

FIFA has relaunched the Club World Cup this summer with an expanded 32-team tournament in the United States.Football’s governing body has made the tournament bigger than ever before, with clubs