At FIFA Club World Cup, how does 'Football Unite the World'?

LOS ANGELES, June 22 (Xinhua) -- If you watch the 2025 Club World Cup, a newly-revamped FIFA flagship tournament, it's clear to see that captains of all participating teams are wearing armbands emblazoned with the slogan "Football Unites the World", a message first introduced at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and later adopted as a core theme by the world's football governing body.

The slogan underscores football's unique power as a global sport, which brings together people from every corner of the world, fostering unity, understanding, and friendship.

At the opening ceremony of the tournament, 32 young players, each representing a participating club, held their team emblems embedded within the letters of "FIFA", creating a powerful visual symbol of the slogan.

According to statistics released by FIFA, among the 998 players registered across the 32 clubs, 415 hold nationalities different from that of the club they represent.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the tournament as a "World Cup" in its own right, featuring representation from 81 countries and regions.

According to Brazil's G1 website, the club with the highest number of foreign players is Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates, with 23 out of its 33 players coming from abroad.

These players hail from 14 different countries and regions, including Portugal, Morocco, South Korea, Paraguay, Togo, Slovenia, Brazil, Argentina, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, and Austria.

The club with the highest percentage of foreign players is Inter Miami of Major League Soccer (MLS). Led by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, the team has a roster of 29 players, 22 of whom are from outside the United States, which means that more than 75% of the squad is composed of foreign players.

In addition, fellow MLS side Los Angeles FC features 31 players representing 17 different countries and regions. Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds, the team with the fewest foreign players in the tournament, still include five non-Japanese players.

FIFA's official registration list also reveals that 26 players have previously won FIFA World Cup before, while 36 players from 22 different countries and regions are making their debut at a senior top-tier FIFA event.

Some notable examples include: Reinildo Mandava, a left-back for Atletico Madrid from Mozambique; Serhou Guirassy, a forward from Guinea playing for Borussia Dortmund; Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a Georgian star with Paris Saint-Germain.

Another standout case is Mali, which has eight players participating across four different clubs: Red Bull Salzburg, Al Ain, Al Ahly, and Esperance Sportive de Tunis.

With players representing 81 countries and regions, the tournament naturally draws their home fans, sparking global interest and engagement with the sport.

Chinese player Zhou Tong, who plays for Auckland City in New Zealand, was part of the first team eliminated in the tournament.

Despite the early exit, Zhou emphasized that their goal was to enjoy the experience, earn respect, and have no regrets. During a match against Benfica, he refused to leave the pitch even after getting injured, saying, "After all, I'm the only Chinese player here, and I cherish this opportunity deeply."

Peter Shalulile, a forward for Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, became the first Namibian player to participate in a top-level FIFA competition. He said, "(Namibians are) excited, waiting on that day where it's going to kick off, sat in their homes, glued to the TV screens, waiting to see their boy doing well in the FIFA (Club) World Cup."

Denis Bouanga, of Los Angeles FC, who hails from Gabon, was the key figure in securing the tournament's final berth for his club by scoring the decisive goal in their play-in match.

Having previously played for several French Ligue One clubs, Bouanga joined LAFC in 2022. "I'm proud to be part of this major event featuring 32 top clubs from around the world," he said.

If the FIFA World Cup is about players fighting for national pride, then the Club World Cup truly embodies the spirit of "Football Unites the World."

Just as fans revel in the excitement of the sport, more players are seizing the honor of representing their nations on the global stage - a defining feature of this brand-new competition. ■