Squad Dilemmas and Global Ambitions: Decoding the ‘Who Would You Take?’ Debate for the FIFA Club World Cup

In the high-pressure ecosystem of Portuguese football, there is nothing quite like a fan poll to ignite a firestorm. When Record posed the question, “Quem levarias ao Mundial?” (Who would you take to the World Cup?), it didn’t just spark a conversation—it opened a floodgate of tactical debates, loyalty tests, and hopeful fantasies. For the supporters of FC Porto and SL Benfica, the question isn’t just about names on a team sheet; it’s about the identity of their clubs on a stage that is about to get significantly larger.

As the Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, I’ve seen this cycle repeat from the FIFA World Cup to the NBA Finals. The gap between a fan’s “ideal XI” and a manager’s “functional squad” is where the real story lives. With the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup transitioning into a massive 32-team tournament hosted in the United States, the stakes for roster construction have shifted from a sprint to a marathon.

Here is the reality: the “Who would you take?” debate is no longer just about who is the most talented player in the locker room. It is now a question of endurance, versatility, and psychological fortitude. When you are flying across time zones to play in the humidity of a North American summer, talent is the baseline—fitness and depth are the differentiators.

The New Blueprint: Why the 32-Team Format Changes Everything

For years, the Club World Cup was a compact, almost ceremonial event—a quick knockout bracket that often felt like a formality for the European champions. That era is dead. The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is a different beast entirely. By expanding to 32 teams, FIFA has effectively created a “World Cup for Clubs,” complete with a group stage and a grueling knockout phase.

For teams like Porto and Benfica, this expansion fundamentally alters the “Who would you take?” equation. In a short tournament, you play your best XI until they drop. In a month-long tournament in the U.S., you need a squad that can withstand the physical toll of high-intensity matches played in varied climates, from the Atlantic coast to the interior heat of the American summer.

This means the “utility player”—the one who can slot into three different positions without a significant drop in quality—becomes more valuable than the luxury specialist. If a manager takes too many “stars” and not enough “workers,” they will hit a wall by the quarterfinals. This represents the nuance often lost in fan polls; supporters want the magicians, but managers need the engines.

The Portuguese Perspective: Porto and Benfica’s Roster Riddles

The debate in Portugal is particularly fierce because of the divergent philosophies currently at play in Porto and Benfica. Both clubs have secured their spots, but their paths to success in the U.S. Will require different personnel strategies.

FC Porto: The Architecture of Resilience
Porto has historically thrived on a culture of “grit” and tactical discipline. When fans ask who to take to the Mundial, they often prioritize players who embody that fighting spirit. However, the challenge for Porto will be balancing that intensity with the need for rotation. To survive a 32-team format, Porto cannot rely solely on a core of veterans. They need a blend of experienced leaders who can manage the game’s tempo and young, high-energy players who can provide an impact off the bench.

SL Benfica: The Balance of Flair and Function
Benfica often enters these conversations with a focus on attacking fluidity and individual brilliance. The “Who would you take?” lists for the Eagles are usually topped by their most creative assets. But the American tour will test Benfica’s defensive solidity. The real question for the Benfica technical staff isn’t which attacker to bring, but which defensive anchors can maintain a high line against the world’s most explosive transitions.

For those following along at home, it’s helpful to remember that the FIFA Club World Cup isn’t just about winning games; it’s about managing the “load.” In sports science, we call this periodization. The manager must decide who is essential for the starting XI and who is essential for the 60th-minute substitution to prevent muscle fatigue in 90-degree weather.

The ‘USA Factor’: Logistics, Climate, and Chaos

Playing a tournament in the United States introduces variables that European clubs rarely face in their domestic leagues. The geography alone is a hurdle. Depending on the final draw, teams could be traveling thousands of miles between group stage matches and the knockout rounds.

Then there is the weather. June and July in the U.S. Can be brutal. Whether the matches are in the humid East Coast or the dry heat of the West, the physiological demand on the players is immense. This is where the “Who would you take?” debate becomes a medical conversation. You don’t just take the best player; you take the player whose physiology is best suited for heat stress.

the cultural shift of playing in the U.S. Cannot be ignored. The atmosphere will be a hybrid of traditional football fans and a curious American sporting public. The mental toughness required to perform in these “spectacle” environments is a trait that managers must weigh heavily when finalizing their rosters.

Tactical Branching: The Role of the ‘Squad Player’

When we analyze the rosters of teams that successfully navigate long tournaments—think of the national teams in the FIFA World Cup—the “Squad Player” is the unsung hero. These are the athletes who might not start the first three games but are indispensable by the fifth.

In the context of the Club World Cup, the tactical adjustments will likely center on three key areas:

• The Hybrid Midfielder: Players who can transition from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 mid-game without requiring a substitution.
• The High-Press Specialist: Players brought in specifically to disrupt the opponent’s build-up for 20-30 minutes, allowing the starters to breathe.
• The Set-Piece Weapon: In tight, tournament-style games, a single corner or free-kick often decides the outcome. Including a specialist for these moments is a non-negotiable.

If you are a fan arguing that a certain star player “must” be taken, ask yourself: can that player adapt to a role where they are not the focal point of every attack? In a tournament of this scale, ego can be as detrimental as an injury.

Comparing the Stakes: Club World Cup vs. Champions League

Many critics argue that the Champions League remains the gold standard of club competition. While that may be true in terms of prestige, the new Club World Cup offers something the UCL doesn’t: a global cross-section of styles. Porto and Benfica won’t just be facing the giants of Europe; they will be testing themselves against the best from South America, Asia, and Africa.

This diversity of style requires a diverse roster. A team that is purely “European” in its approach—relying on structured positioning and tactical rigidity—might struggle against the more fluid, improvisational styles found in other confederations. The “Who would you take?” list should therefore include players who are comfortable with chaos and can adapt to unpredictable game rhythms.

The Manager’s Burden: Beyond the Polls

While the fans on Record debate the merits of a specific winger or a veteran center-back, the managers are looking at data. They are looking at GPS tracking, sleep patterns, and injury histories. They are calculating the risk of taking a player who is “brilliant but fragile” versus one who is “consistent but unremarkable.”

The beauty of the “Who would you take?” question is that it reflects the passion of the fanbase. But the art of management is knowing when to ignore the noise. The rosters that succeed in the United States will be those built on a foundation of stability, not those built on the whims of a popular vote.

As we move closer to the tournament, the focus will shift from “who should go” to “who can survive.” For Porto and Benfica, the goal is clear: represent Portuguese football with honor and prove that their tactical systems can translate to a global stage.

Next Checkpoint: Keep an eye on the official FIFA draw for the 2025 Club World Cup, which will determine the group placements and travel schedules for all 32 qualified teams. Once the groups are set, the “Who would you take?” debate will evolve into a specific tactical analysis of the opponents.

Who is the one “underrated” player you believe is essential for a Portuguese side to succeed in the US? Let us know in the comments or share this analysis with your fellow supporters.