With the two major international tournaments done and dusted for 2024–congratulations to Spain for its record-breaking fourth European title and to Argentina for its record 16th Copa America crown–many people in the Garden State are now looking forward to the summer of 2026.
New Jersey will host the FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19, as well as various other matches throughout the tournament.
But if you are a fan of club soccer (or football, whatever you may call it) living in New Jersey, there is a new tournament on the horizon that is going to pique a lot of interest in the Garden State, America, and all over the world.
Next summer, from June 15 to July 13, the FIFA Club World Cup will come to America, and the East Coast will be the main beneficiary. Thirty-two of the biggest names in world soccer–including UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea (2021), Manchester City (2023), and Real Madrid (2022, 2024) will be joined by winners of the other continental tournaments over the last four years, as well as other clubs that are highly-ranked in the FIFA coefficient.
Here is a list of teams that have already qualified, with the way they qualified
| Confederation | No. of teams | Teams |
| AFC | 4 | Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Winners of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League, Ulsan HD |
| CAF | 4 | Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Winners of the 2023-24 CAF Champions League, TBC |
| CONCACAF | 4 | Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Leon, Winners of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League |
| CONMEBOL | 6 | Palmeiras, Fluminense, Flamengo, Winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores, TBC, TBC |
| OFC | 1 | Auckland City |
| UEFA | 12 | Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg |
| CONCACAF (host) | 1 | TBC |
There is a lot of hype surrounding this new format, and New Jersey fans and bettors will be at the center of this new summer. With games most likely slated for both MetLife stadium in East Rutherford as well as Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Garden State residents will get to see what it is like to host and attend a major FIFA event ahead of the World Cup.
While there are no odds yet for the upcoming tournament, we can speculate that it will be Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and PSG that will lead the way at the top of the list.
In fact, looking at top New Jersey bookmakers, three of those teams above are the current favorites to win the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League title. Check what sportsbooks offer in NJ here.
Here is a current look at the odds to win the Champions League.
| CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAM | WINNER ODDS |
| Manchester City | +275 |
| Real Madrid | +300 |
| Bayern Munich | +800 |
| Arsenal | +800 |
| FC Barcelona | +1200 |
| Liverpool | +1400 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | +1400 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | +1600 |
| Inter Milan | +2500 |
| Atletico Madrid | +2500 |
| Borussia Dortmund | +3300 |
| AC Milan | +4000 |
| Juventus FC | +4000 |
| Aston Villa | +5000 |
| Atalanta | +6600 |
| Girona | +6600 |
| VfB Stuttgart | +6600 |
| RB Leipzig | +6600 |
| Bologna FC | +10000 |
| AS Monaco | +10000 |
| Sporting Lisbon | +10000 |
| Stade Brest | +15000 |
| PSV Eindhoven | +15000 |
| Feyenoord | +15000 |
| Benfica | +15000 |
| Club Brugge | +20000 |
| Celtic | +25000 |
| Sturm Graz | +25000 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk | +25000 |
For New Jersey residents, soccer fans, and bettors, the next two summers will be electric.
How to bet the FIFA Club World Cup
For New Jersey bettors looking to wager on the Club World Cup, there are multiple ways you can place your bets that could see you profit nicely.
Once the field of 32 is set, there will be futures odds on the winner of the tournament–just like for any major tournament–and there will be some value because of the strength of teams at the top.
You would want to follow how the various European teams do during the upcoming season, monitor any injuries, and make sure you check back with NJ.Bet closer to the tournament for expert tips. For us, Real Madrid would be a strong play to win the competition, as the club has won two of the last three UEFA Champions League titles and might have the strongest squad in the world.
You can also bet on the individual matches at the tournament as well as the eight group winners, just like you can for the Champions League. Once again, check back with NJ.Bet often to see predictions for each match day.
For those people looking to bet on soccer for the first time, there are many ways to wager, just like with the NFL. The main difference is that there can be a draw (tie) in soccer, so if you bet the game, there can be three outcomes instead of two. But that means there is usually more value in the money line wagers.
