Subtitle: FIFA president defends expanded tournament’s $2bn revenue, vows improved player welfare for 2026 World Cup
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has boldly declared the revamped Club World Cup as “already the most successful club competition in the world,” despite heavy criticism from players, managers, and fans alike.
Speaking at Trump Tower in New York ahead of Sunday’s final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, Infantino doubled down on FIFA’s decision to expand the competition to 32 teams and host it during the peak of the summer. He highlighted that the tournament generated over $2 billion in revenue, which averages around $33 million per match — a figure he says no other club competition globally can match.
“We can say definitely that this FIFA Club World Cup has been a huge, huge, huge success,” Infantino declared. “We had over 2.5 million in the stadiums — around 40,000 spectators per game — and that’s without any home teams. Apart from the Premier League, no league comes close to that.”
A Controversial “Golden Era”
Infantino’s praise comes at a time when the competition has drawn significant backlash. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called it “the worst idea ever implemented in football,” while top players including Jude Bellingham, Reece James, and Enzo Fernandez voiced concerns about extreme heat and poor pitch conditions in the U.S.
Chelsea midfielder Fernandez slammed the conditions as “very dangerous,” and his manager Enzo Maresca claimed training sessions were almost “impossible.” With daytime temperatures soaring to 38°C in New Jersey, concerns about player welfare have taken center stage.
Empty Seats and Empty Cheers?
While FIFA touts the 2.5 million stadium attendance figure, the reality paints a more mixed picture. More than one million empty seats were recorded throughout the tournament, with some matches played in half-empty stadiums — undermining the event’s claim to global popularity.
Nevertheless, Infantino remains optimistic:
“There are a lot of positives, some negatives. We respect everyone’s opinion. But from every angle — attendance, finances, reach — it is already the world’s most successful club competition.”
Player Welfare and the 2026 World Cup
Looking ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will also take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico during summer, Infantino admitted that “the heat is definitely an issue.” In response, he assured that covered stadiums would be used more frequently for daytime matches.
“We have stadiums in America that are covered — Atlanta was used during this tournament — and we’ll have four more covered venues in 2026, including Vancouver, Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles,” he said.
Earlier this month, the global players’ union FIFPro criticized FIFA for allowing matches like Chelsea vs ES Tunis to proceed in extreme heat, warning that such conditions risk player health and safety.
Infantino promised that FIFA would introduce cooling breaks, adjust pitch maintenance, and learn from this year’s experiences to better prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
Final Thoughts
While FIFA celebrates record-breaking revenues and global reach, the growing discontent among players and managers cannot be ignored. Infantino may see the tournament as the dawn of a “golden era” for global club football, but questions about player welfare, scheduling, and the true fan experience remain unanswered.
As the final showdown between Chelsea and PSG kicks off in New Jersey, one thing is certain: the Club World Cup has ignited a heated debate — and not just because of the weather.
