Are We Underrating South American Football?
How South American football is stealing the spotlight at the 2025 Club World Cup — with rhythm, passion, and world-class talent.
Shortest90
- June 25, 2025
In the glittering world of European football, it’s easy to overlook what you don’t see often. South American football — vibrant, intense, poetic — is one such phenomenon that has long been treated like a distant cousin of the global game. But with the revamped Club World Cup now underway, that narrative is rapidly shifting.
When South America Shocks Europe
Why are people surprised when Botafogo beats PSG? Why is it shocking when Flamengo tears Chelsea apart 3-1 in a comeback win? Or when Fluminense tops a group filled with European giants? The reality is, we’re not watching enough South American football to respect its quality.
Just like fans underestimated Atalanta against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023 Europa League final, casual viewers continue to underestimate South American clubs. But those who follow the Brasileirão or the Copa Libertadores know exactly what these teams are capable of.
A Talent Factory That Feeds Europe
From River Plate to Boca Juniors, from Palmeiras to Fluminense — these clubs are more than institutions. They are talent factories. Their youth systems produce stars at 17 or 18 who are shipped off to Europe before fans even get to know their names.
Palmeiras’ and Fluminense’s owners have publicly admitted: the best young players barely play a full season before being whisked away to the Bernabéu, Anfield, or Stamford Bridge. And it’s from this same overlooked factory that global superstars like Vinícius Jr., Endrick, and Julián Álvarez have emerged.
The Club World Cup: A Global Stage
With South American teams competing directly against European sides in this extended Club World Cup format, the footballing world finally has the chance to witness what many have ignored for years.
Palmeiras is topping their group. Botafogo is leading theirs — ahead of PSG and Atlético Madrid. Flamengo outclassed Chelsea. River Plate is outperforming Inter Milan. Even Boca Juniors went toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich and managed to score. These aren’t one-off miracles; they’re the result of real footballing systems that produce consistent quality.
More Than Just Football — It’s Culture
Watch a Flamengo match and you’ll notice something different. It’s not just tactical football — it’s rhythm, it’s expression, it’s art. Football in Brazil isn’t just a sport. It’s dance. It’s movement. It’s joy.
When English traders brought football to Brazil in the 19th century, locals infused the game with their own cultural rhythm — samba, street art, celebration. That’s why today, watching a Brazilian team play feels like watching choreography. There’s flair in the passes, poetry in the combinations, and music in the movement.
Forget rigid tactics. South American football is about rhythm — the kind of flow that doesn’t rely on systems but on understanding, on relationships, on freedom. Flamengo’s players weren’t just playing against Chelsea — they were performing.
Fan Culture: The Beating Heart of the Game
Go to any stadium hosting a South American club match in this tournament and you’ll feel it. Boca Juniors fans lighting up Miami Beach. Palmeiras supporters turning Times Square into a green-and-white carnival. These aren’t just fans — they’re a movement.
And this Club World Cup, hosted in North America, has become more than a tournament — it’s turned into a massive South American family reunion. Immigrants living in the U.S. are reconnecting with their roots, finally getting a chance to cheer for their teams in full voice. It’s not just a football event — it’s a cultural festival.
Closing the Financial Gap
Of course, European clubs have financial muscle. PSG, Chelsea, and Madrid have spent billions to build squads over the years. In contrast, South American clubs survive by selling talent. But they reinvest that money. They nurture grassroots football. Their entire footballing ecosystem depends on producing excellence.
This is why the Club World Cup matters — not just for glory, but for survival. With prize money reaching $18 million, this tournament provides both exposure and economic relief for South American sides. It allows them to compete, grow, and dream.
A Battle of Styles — And Identity
This tournament isn’t just showcasing footballing ability — it’s exposing biases. Many still treat Copa América and Copa Libertadores as lesser tournaments, placing them below the UEFA Nations League. But that’s only because they don’t watch them.
Watch Ecuador in World Cup qualifiers. Watch Colombia’s recent rise. These teams play beautiful, intelligent, physical football. And now, that same talent is lighting up the Club World Cup.
If European giants like PSG or Atlético Madrid come in with half-hearted performances, South American clubs — playing with raw intensity and rhythm — will run riot.
History Repeats for Those Who Remember
This isn’t new. In 1951, Palmeiras beat Nice and Red Star Belgrade in the first intercontinental club competition. In 1981, Flamengo humbled Liverpool. In 1986, River Plate outclassed Steaua Bucharest. South American clubs have always shown they can match — and often beat — their European counterparts. They just haven’t had many chances to do so.
The Soul of the Club World Cup
Remove these South American teams, and the Club World Cup loses its soul. While European teams often treat it like a formality, these teams come hungry. For respect. For recognition. For pride.
They play for their fans. They dance for their culture. They win for their continent.
Whether it’s Botafogo stunning PSG, or Flamengo dancing past Chelsea, one thing is clear — South American football is not a hidden gem. It’s a blazing fire that deserves the world’s attention.
Final Thought
The Club World Cup is now worth watching — not because of the billions spent in Europe, but because of the magic created in the streets of Buenos Aires, the favelas of Rio, and the academies of São Paulo.
The question is — which South American team has captured your heart this tournament?
And as Brazil begins its bid to host the 2029 Club World Cup — we can only imagine the scenes that await.
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