Bet365 Reports
Despite concerns over interest and inconvenient match times, UK football bettors showed strong engagement with the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The UK was one of the three top wagering markets during the tournament, according to a review by Bet365.
The betting firm reported that 67.9% of all bets on the tournament came from just three countries: The UK, Spain, and Brazil.
The company, based in Stoke-on-Trent, found that UK bettors were active throughout the tournament, particularly during the knockout stages. Steve Freeth, bet365’s Sports and Trading Expert, said that the company had been uncertain how British customers would respond to the revamped tournament, especially with matches involving lesser-known clubs kicking off in the early hours. He also noted that global turnover was solid.
Brazil’s enthusiasm for the Club World Cup dates back to the previous format. However, the level of UK participation was less predictable given the lukewarm reception from the British media and Premier League managers.
Format Concerns
Concerns ranged from fixture congestion to player burnout. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola warned the event could “destroy” domestic campaigns.
This year was the first edition of the expanded format, where the number of participating teams increased from seven to 32.
One of the most heavily staked matches was Bayern Munich’s clash with Flamengo, drawing attention from English punters due to the presence of national team captain Harry Kane. This match saw the biggest single-player payout when Jamal Musiala replaced Harry Kane, activating the “Sub On, Play On” feature offered by Bet365. The German youngster scored a hat-trick, forcing the bookmakers to pay out on super boosted odds.
The Jury is Out
Chelsea’s surprise victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final capped off a tournament that, while popular for bettors, failed to capture widespread attention in the UK. ITV’s broadcast of England vs Wales in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 group stage drew nearly four times as many viewers as Channel 5’s coverage of the Club World Cup final. 4.2 million watched the women’s home nations match while 1.1 million watched Chelsea vs PSG.
From a profit perspective, the tournament delivered a mix of outcomes. Results such as Boca Juniors failing to beat Auckland City and Real Madrid’s draw with Al-Hilal were profitable mainly because they disrupted customers’ Bet Builder and accumulator wagers.
Matches involving Brazilian sides consistently generated betting interest. Flamengo and Palmeiras both featured in a number of the top ten most wagered matches by amount of money staked. Which is notable considering neither team progressed past the quarter finals.
While bet365 acknowledged that overall stakes were 21.6% lower than those seen in the UEFA Champions League Final, they were pleased. The company accepted challenges like the fact that it was the inception of this format for the competition and time zone differences, summarising that their performance during the Club World Cup “was not a disappointing outcome.”
