Mic'd Up: The Apple TV+ analyst talked all things Club World Cup, and why MLS clubs could capitalize on the tournament
Taylor Twellman didn't know how to answer when asked about Leagues Cup in 2023. Back then, the competition, contested between MLS and Liga MX clubs, was still something of an unknown. How would this expanded thing work? Would anyone care? Twellman answered honestly: he had no idea.
But then things changed. Lionel Messi arrived at Inter Miami, led them to the trophy in his first season, and suddenly, the tournament was meaningful.
"I was asked that question about Leagues Cup in 2023. And I didn't know that answer," he tells GOAL. "I was like, 'Yeah. I mean, I know there's a rivalry with Mexico and the U.S. and all that.' I answered it very honestly, but then Messi showed up, and then it became this phenomenon."
Tellman, the former New England Revolution and USMNT forward has the same attitude about the upcoming the Club World Cup. FIFA's shiny new expanded tournament will come to the United States this summer, and although there is skepticism in some corners, Twellman thinks a similar thing could happen – especially given the caliber of teams coming to play.
"If the interest isn't there, I would be shocked," he adds.
It could be a particularly beneficial tournament for MLS, in particular. FIFA's pre-tournament transfer window for participating CWC teams might benefit the likes of Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders and LAFC (should they qualify) make some moves in the transfer market. Meanwhile, any exposure to American soccer is a good thing.
"Do Seattle and Miami, and potentially LAFC, need a little bit of extra help for the tournament? So yeah, I mean, that gains my interest just naturally… All three clubs are usually aggressive in signing players," Twellman says.
And, perhaps most importantly, this thing could be good fun. Criticize in any way you will, but there is definitely an appeal to seeing two clubs that would otherwise never play each other meet on a big stage.
"It's like playing FIFA or EAFC online. You're like 'Let's play a random game, you'll be Atletico Madrid, and I'll be Seattle Sounders.' But, like, it's really going to happen," Twellman says.
The Apple TV analyst talked all things Club World Cup in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL US taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
GettyON FAN INTEREST IN THE CLUB WORLD CUP
GOAL: On the Club World Cup, will anyone care?
TWELLMAN: Such a good question. My answer is yes, but I don't know to what extent. I'm excited as an American that lives here because Major League Soccer, their stadiums, their venues, their infrastructure, the clubs, the fan bases, a new fan base is going to be exposed to Major League Soccer – and what we're doing over in this country. So that part, on a personal level, I'm excited for. Do Real Madrid or Man City fans need to care? I don't know that answer.
GOAL: Right, but there's the money on the line. Will that have an impact?
TWELLMAN: I mean the amount of money for their clubs to win should, just on a natural level, gain interest because that may mean a different purchase when the transfer window opens up. That's so simplistic, but isn't that what it is? And who knows? Maybe the fifth edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, we're all going to remember the first one.
GOAL: That is true.
TWELLMAN: I was asked that question about Leagues Cup in 2023. And I didn't know that answer. I was like, "Yeah. I mean, I know there's a rivalry with Mexico and the U.S. and all that." I answered it very honestly, but then Messi showed up, and then it became this phenomenon. So I don't know. If the interest isn't there, I would be shocked.
AdvertisementAFPON THE PRE-TOURNAMENT TRANSFER WINDOW
GOAL: What do you make of the transfer window just before the Club World Cup? Is that of interest to you?
TWELLMAN: You're talking about Messi's team in Miami. Naturally, you're like, "OK, who does that mean? What does that look like? Do Seattle and Miami and potentially LAFC need a little bit of extra help for the tournament? So yeah, I mean, that gains my interest just naturally, because of the potentially three clubs that are in the tournament. All three clubs are usually aggressive in signing players, you know. And the rumor is Angel Di Maria's going to end up being in Miami. Until that gets over the line, you don't know. But, you know, there's always a question of, who's the next player?
Getty Images SportON HOW FANS WILL RESPOND
GOAL: Do you think it'll bring more fans into the game?
TWELLMAN: I do, just because, when was the last time the African champions are going to be playing the European clubs? You know what I'm saying? I just feel like, because of how grand and big and how many clubs and from where they're coming, all over. It's going to be no different than what the World Cup does, in the sense of, there are some fans that are going to watch games that they've never dreamed in their lifetime they're going to see.
GOAL: Right. Normally, why would most people in the U.S. randomly watch Urawa Reds, for example?
TWELLMAN: I would never see them play. It'd be hard to watch them. It's impossible to watch every football game around the world. And yet, I'm the same way as you are. I will find a way to watch that random game just because it's in our country, it's in the time zone. And I've never seen them play, and they were going to be playing someone that they never thought they'd be playing.
GOAL: Do you think MLS clubs probably feel the same way?
TWELLMAN: Did we ever think Seattle Sounders would play Atletico Madrid? That's kind of where I'm coming from. It's an unknown. But it's like playing FIFA online. You're like "Let's play a random game, you'll be Atletico Madrid, and I'll be Seattle Sounders." But, like, it's really going to happen.
AFPON WHO WINS THE CLUB WORLD CUP
GOAL: And finally, who wins the Club World Cup?
TWELLMAN: I'll be stunned if it's not one of the five to six biggest clubs in the world. I think they're deeper, they're stronger, they're more experienced. However, the only caveat I have to that is you're talking about some real tired legs, yeah, especially with those bigger clubs. And so that may lend to someone else surprising people. But you know, if I'm really looking at the odds, I'm looking at the top five or six favorites, it would have to be them.