FIFA President Declares Club World Cup as the Premier Club Competition

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has boldly proclaimed the Club World Cup as the "most successful club competition in the world," despite facing widespread criticism. Speaking at Trump Tower in New York alongside football legends such as Ronaldo Nazario, Roberto Baggio, and Kaka, Infantino revealed the tournament has generated over $2 billion (£1.5 billion) in revenue, averaging $33 million (£24 million) per match.

Infantino described the event as a "huge success," heralding the beginning of a "golden era of global club football." His remarks come in the wake of criticism from prominent figures, including former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who labeled the expanded 32-team tournament as "the worst idea ever implemented in football."

The competition, which moved to a summer schedule this year, has faced challenges such as poor attendance, with over a million empty seats reported. Players, including Jude Bellingham, Reece James, and Enzo Fernandez, have also voiced concerns about extreme weather conditions and subpar pitch quality in the United States. Fernandez described the heat as "very dangerous," while Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca lamented the difficulty of conducting normal training sessions.

Despite these issues, Infantino emphasized the tournament's achievements, stating, "We can say definitively that this FIFA Club World Cup has been a huge, huge, huge success." He highlighted the tournament's average attendance of 40,000 spectators per match, a figure he claims surpasses most global leagues, except the Premier League. "We heard financially it would not work, but I can say we generated over $2 billion in revenues with this competition," he added.

Regarding the extreme heat, Infantino acknowledged the challenges but pointed to solutions such as cooling breaks, pitch watering, and the use of covered stadiums. "Of course, the heat is definitely an issue," he said, referencing similar concerns during the Olympics in Paris. He confirmed that FIFA will utilize more covered stadiums during the 2026 World Cup, which will be held across the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The final of this year's Club World Cup, set to take place in New Jersey, is expected to draw significant attention, with US President Donald Trump reportedly in attendance. As FIFA looks ahead to future tournaments, Infantino remains confident in the competition's global appeal and financial success.