It felt different. Usually, these mid-season tournaments feel like a chore for European giants, a literal flight to the middle of nowhere just to tick a box. But for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup wasn't just another trophy for the cabinet. It was the final stone. The one that completed the gauntlet. When they stepped onto the pitch at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, there was this weird tension in the air. People kept talking about whether Fluminense’s "anti-Ancelotti" style—that chaotic, positionless Brazilian samba football—could actually rattle the most disciplined machine in world sports.
Spoilers: It didn't.
City won 4-0. It was clinical, bordering on cruel. But if you only look at the scoreline, you're missing why this specific iteration of the tournament actually mattered for the global game. This was the last time we’d see the competition in this "small" format before FIFA blows the whole thing up into a 32-team behemoth. It was an era ending in the desert heat.
Why the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup actually mattered
For years, fans in England and Germany laughed at this tournament. They called it a "Mickey Mouse" cup. Try telling that to a fan of Fluminense or Al-Ahly. For the rest of the world, this is the Super Bowl. It’s the one chance to prove that money doesn't always buy better football.
In 2023, the stakes were weirdly high. Manchester City was coming off a Treble but looked... human? They were dropping points in the Premier League. Erling Haaland was nursing a bone stress injury in his foot and didn't even play a single minute in Saudi Arabia. Seriously, the best striker on the planet was a spectator. That gave the tournament a strange "what if" vibe. Could the Brazilians actually pull it off?
Fernando Diniz, the Fluminense coach, had everyone obsessed with his "relationism" tactics. Instead of a rigid grid, his players just flocked to wherever the ball was. It’s beautiful, messy, and totally the opposite of Pep’s "Juego de Posicion." For about twenty minutes in that final, it actually looked like it might work. Then Julian Alvarez happened.
The Julian Alvarez Show
Alvarez scored within 40 seconds.
Forty. Seconds.
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It’s the fastest goal in the history of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup finals. He used his chest. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective. That’s the thing about this City team—they don't need Haaland to be inevitable. They just find another way to break your spirit. Phil Foden was buzzing everywhere, and by the time Nino scored an own goal, the game was basically a formality.
Saudi Arabia's big audition
We have to talk about Jeddah. This wasn't just about the football on the grass; it was a massive PR play. Saudi Arabia is hosting the 2034 World Cup, and the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup was their big "look at us" moment.
The stadiums were gleaming. The infrastructure was terrifyingly efficient. You’ve got to admit, they know how to put on a show. But there’s a nuance here most people miss. The crowds weren't just plastic fans or expats. The passion for Al-Ittihad—the local giants—was deafening. When they played Auckland City in the opening round, the atmosphere was genuinely more electric than half the Champions League group stage games I’ve seen.
Romarinho and N'Golo Kante looked like they were having the time of their lives until they ran into Al-Ahly. That was the shock of the tournament for me.
The Al-Ahly Factor
The Egyptian giants are basically the Real Madrid of Africa. They have more trophies than they know what to do with. Everyone expected Al-Ittihad, with Karim Benzema and Fabinho, to steamroll them. Nope. Al-Ahly dismantled them 3-1.
It was a reminder that "names" don't win short-format tournaments. Synergy does. Al-Ahly’s goalkeeper, Mohamed El Shenawy, was a wall. They eventually took home the bronze medal after a wild 4-2 win over Urawa Red Diamonds. Honestly, that third-place playoff was probably the most entertaining game of the whole trip. Six goals, a missed penalty, and some of the worst defending you’ll ever see at a professional level. Total chaos.
The tactical shift nobody is talking about
People think the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup was a foregone conclusion. "Europe always wins." And yeah, they do. A European club has won every year since 2012. But the gap in intent is closing.
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In previous years, the non-European teams would just park the bus. They’d play a 5-4-1 and pray for a counter-attack. In 2023, Fluminense tried to out-pass Manchester City. That is insane. It’s borderline suicidal, but it’s a shift. Marcelo, the legendary Real Madrid left-back, was playing for Fluminense at age 35, and he was still trying to nutmeg people in his own box.
You have to respect the audacity.
- The Haaland Absence: City didn't miss him. That’s the scary part.
- Rodri's Importance: He won the Golden Ball for a reason. He’s the heartbeat. Without him, the system collapses.
- The Heat: It wasn't as bad as feared, but you could see the European players flagging by the 70th minute.
Misconceptions about the "World Champion" title
There’s always a debate: Does winning the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup actually make you the best team in the world?
Technically, yes. Emotionally? It depends on who you ask. In South America, this is the peak. It’s the "Intercontinental" heritage. In Manchester, it was the "Big Five" (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup). They became the first English club to hold all five at once.
But let’s be real. The financial gulf is massive. Manchester City’s bench probably costs more than the entire squad of every other team in the tournament combined. That’s not a knock on City; it’s just the reality of modern football. The 2023 tournament felt like the last "fair" chance for a smaller team to pull an upset before the 2025 expansion makes it statistically impossible.
What actually happened in the final?
If you didn't watch it, you missed a masterclass in game management.
- Minute 1: Alvarez scores. Fluminense’s plan is nuked instantly.
- Minute 27: Nino (Fluminense captain) deflects a Foden cross into his own net.
- Minute 72: Foden slides one in. The game is over.
- Minute 88: Alvarez gets his second.
The Brazilians were tired. They play a high-energy style that just doesn't work when you're chasing the ball against Rodri and Mateo Kovacic for 90 minutes. It’s like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands.
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Actionable insights for the future of the tournament
If you're a fan of global football, the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup was the end of a chapter. Here is what you need to keep in mind for what comes next:
The tournament is moving to a four-year cycle. This means the 2023 edition was the last annual "sprint." Future winners will have to survive a month-long tournament in the United States.
The "Gap" is about depth, not just talent. Fluminense had incredible individual players (look up André, he’s going to be a star in Europe soon), but they didn't have the legs to compete for a full match.
The AFC (Asia) and CAF (Africa) are catching up to CONMEBOL (South America). Al-Ahly and Urawa Red Diamonds showed that the traditional "Europe vs. South America" final isn't a guarantee anymore.
Watch the kids. This tournament is where scouts find the next big thing. Oscar Bobb got some minutes for City here and looked like a future superstar.
Manchester City left Saudi Arabia with a gold badge on their chest and a sense of "mission accomplished." They proved they could handle the travel, the pressure, and the bizarre tactics of a different continent without breaking a sweat. It wasn't just a trophy; it was a statement of total global dominance. Whether you love them or hate them, you can't argue with the history they wrote in Jeddah.