Club World Cup XI Part 1 Getty

Club World Cup XI: MLS teams need results, Real Madrid underwhelm, Botafogo stun PSG - key observations from first week of CWC

We are one Matchday into the Club World Cup, and things haven't quite taken off. FIFA's flagship tournament has operated on a gentle simmer for a week. There have been some moments that show promise, such as Boca fans going wild and Real Madrid being not-that-good. But otherwise, it's been a tepid affair, 32 teams pretty much just feeling this competition out.

But that does not mean that we are devoid of talking points. Even with the CWC overall yet to take off, the group stage has already yielded some interesting drama. The South American clubs, for example, have been the early stars of the show. MLS have been a bit mixed - although Miami picked up a massive win against Porto on Thursday. PSG had no issues in the first game, but then were stunned by Botafogo Thursday night.

There are moments of promise. Fundamentally, this isn't just a kickabout in blistering heat in front of five very rich fans. And that's certainly a good start for a tournament that is very much in its embryonic phase.

Article continues below

GOAL US presents the Club World Cup XI, with key observations from the first week of matches.