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Healthy crowds, Messi mania lift Club World Cup, but quality gap shows

Club World Cup - Group A - Al Ahly v Inter Miami CF

Inter Miami CF's Lionel Messi shoots at goal from a free kick Saturday.

 Hannah McKay/reuters

MIAMI � The expanded Club World Cup has kicked off with healthy crowds, "Messi mania" and a festival atmosphere in Miami, giving an early vindication to world football body FIFA after fears of empty stands and global disinterest.

FIFA controversially awarded Lionel Messi's Inter Miami a backdoor route into the tournament, ensuring the sport’s biggest name would be there after he propelled soccer to new heights in a country often ambivalent to the world’s most popular game.



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