The Club World Cup is finally here - but who is it really for?
After dislocating his shoulder towards the end of 2023, Jude Bellingham has been playing through the pain and aided by strapping protection.
The Real Madrid midfielder is finally set to undergo surgery in the off-season to ensure his shoulder heals properly, but will be sidelined for up to 12 weeks as part of his recovery.
New boss Xabi Alonso surely wants his talismanic midfielder back as early as possible next season as the Spaniard looks to mount a challenge on defending league champions Barcelona.
Real, however, have decided otherwise, preferring Bellingham to play through the pain for a few weeks longer at the upcoming Club World Cup to try and help his side become the first winners of the new, expanded tournament.
Such a decision is evidence enough of the divisive nature of FIFA's latest brainchild. Spearheaded by current president Gianni Infantino, the revamped Club World Cup was not something clubs asked for. Fans and players certainly didn't either.
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But as the 64-game tournament gets underway in the United States, the waters of opposition have undoubtedly become muddied, and a new reality appears to have emerged.
After a hectic season of club football, which included an expanded Champions League, few of Europe's top players appear keen to shorten their summers further by playing in the Club World Cup.
'We players would love to have some holidays, and some time for our bodies to rest,' Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, a vocal critic of the tournament, recently said.
'My City teammates are not exactly overjoyed about the tournament either. But it's now right in our faces, and there is nothing we can do about it.
'If we take part, then of course we want to win it. But if we reach the final, then the time period for us to recover ahead of the new season will become even shorter.'
While not everyone has been so forthright, Akanji is not alone. Earlier in the season, fellow City star Rodri said players may consider strike action over fixture congestion. Many more have privately expressed concerns.
'When I speak to PFA members who are playing in the Premier League, in Europe and for their country, fixture congestion is the number one issue they raise,' Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Maheta Molango told Metro last November.
'Those players know how privileged they are to be in that position, but there are physical limits to how far they can be pushed. Right now, they are in a situation where they are essentially part of a year-round football calendar; it never stops. We're starting to hit a tipping point because they are not robots.'
Players may not be universally keen on taking part, and it appears that the reception from fans has been similarly mixed.
Sluggish ticket sales could see as many as 45,000 empty seats for the tournament's opening fixture between Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Al Ahly.
Sales for games involving high-profile European sides have fared better, while South American teams are expected to travel in their numbers for a chance to see their teams as well as ageing stars such as Messi and Luis Suarez in action.
But many fixtures involving lesser-known teams from further afield seem destined to take place against the half-empty backdrop of vast US stadiums.
That mixed reception has also manifested itself in the TV coverage. FIFA found itself initially unable to shift broadcasting rights before DAZN took them off the governing bodies' hands for a remarkable $1billion (£787million) figure.
The not-so-subtle $1bn investment in DAZN from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund weeks later may also explain where the funding for the bid came from and what FIFA is hoping to achieve off the field of play with this competition.
But while players and many fans appear apathetic, most clubs appear to have embraced the opportunity that the revamped format has offered with both hands.
For smaller clubs, the exposure and opportunity to test their mettle against Europe's best might be considered reward enough.
But for the tournament's bigger sides, the financial upside is likely the most eye-catching element.
FIFA's rankings will grant Europe's top-ranked sides £29.6m just for participating, with a potential £97m on offer should they win all their group-stage games and then the entire tournament.
On top of a participation fee, clubs will receive prize money as follows: Group Stages : £1.5m for a win and £800,000 for a draw
: £1.5m for a win and £800,000 for a draw Round of 16 : £5.8m
: £5.8m Quarter-Final : £10.1m
: £10.1m Semi-Final : £16.2m
: £16.2m Runners-up : £23.2m
: £23.2m Winner: £30.0m
Perhaps then, it's no surprise that Real were happy to spend £10m for Trent Alexander-Arnold's early release from Liverpool in time for the tournament.
There are, of course, downsides. Playing a tournament during the transfer window will surely complicate summer recruitment, let alone pre-season.
England boss Thomas Tuchel has already suggested that Arsenal and Liverpool will have an advantage over Chelsea and Manchester City in the league next year due to the latter two's participation in the Club World Cup. More Trending
But in an era of more stringent financial regulation and PSR rules, the opportunity to bank nearly £100m from just seven games' work is far too alluring.
The second edition of the revamped tournament won't take place until 2029, but reports suggest that Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United – as well as a host of other top European clubs – are keen to see the tournament expanded to ensure they can share in the future financial benefits.
None of that should come as much of a surprise – many of these clubs happily signed up to the Super League before its quick demise. Perhaps now the Club World Cup is seen as the next-best option.
Players may not be keen, football's vast fanbase may still be unconvinced, but clubs and their owners appear to be all in. For now, that might be all that matters.
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