Sun Jun 29 16:40:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**European Powerhouses Attract Betting Action in Club World Cup, But US Interest Remains Lukewarm**

As the FIFA Club World Cup progresses into the knockout stages, European giants like Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich are drawing significant betting interest, particularly from the public. However, early indicators suggest the tournament’s popularity in the United States is still developing, as overall betting handle remains modest compared to other major soccer events.

Despite being the odds-on favorite to win the tournament at +275 (ESPN BET), Manchester City isn’t the public’s darling, with DraftKings reporting only 12% of bets and handle placed on the English side. Instead, PSG, fueled by its star-studded roster, has captured the imagination of bettors, leading the money share at DraftKings (27%) and BetMGM (23.8%). BetMGM saw PSG’s odds shorten dramatically from +1200 to +300 as they advanced.

A highly anticipated match on Sunday sees PSG clashing with Inter Miami, led by their former icon Lionel Messi. PSG is a heavy -500 favorite (ESPN BET), but Inter Miami, despite being an 80-1 longshot to win the tournament, poses a unique sportsbook liability due to Messi’s popularity in the US.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are also popular choices among bettors, with Real Madrid leading the handle at ESPN BET and FanDuel (31% each), while Bayern Munich is BetMGM’s biggest liability.

Despite these pockets of interest, overall betting volume for the Club World Cup hasn’t reached the levels of other major soccer competitions. One sportsbook representative noted that daily handle for many matches is trailing behind even MLB and WNBA games during the summer.

Looking ahead to the FIFA World Cup in North America next year, caution is warranted. The current Club World Cup is in its inaugural year of expanded format. Additionally, past World Cups faced challenges in attracting betting handle: 2018 coincided with the nascent stages of legal sports betting in the US, and the 2022 tournament was held in the autumn, competing with the established American football season. It remains to be seen whether the World Cup in North America can fully capitalize on the growing US sports betting market.

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