The FIFA Club World Cup group stage is in the books as 16 teams advanced to the knockout stage with hopes of lifting the trophy this summer.
The new-look tournament has been met with mixed feelings so far. As debates regarding the packed match calendar rage on, scenes of empty stadiums early in the tournament was a cause for concern. On the other hand, there's been some feel-good stories this summer—including Flamengo and Botafogo—and positive additions like the referee camera.
