Infantino Declares FIFA Club World Cup ‘Most Successful Club Competition in the History’

What Did Infantino Say About the Club World Cup’s Success?

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has boldly claimed that the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup is already “the most successful club competition in the world.” Speaking from Trump Tower in New York City, where FIFA recently opened a new office, Infantino dismissed criticism over the tournament’s timing, location, and relevance.

“We heard that financially it would not work, that nobody is interested, but I can say we generated almost 2.1 billion dollars in revenues, for 63 matches,” he told reporters. “That makes an average of $33 million per match; no other club competition in the world comes close.”

Infantino insisted that the format has redefined global club football. “The golden age of club football has started. We can say this FIFA Club World Cup has been a huge success,” he said.

How Have Fans and Teams Reacted to the Tournament?

Despite games being played in the sweltering U.S. summer heat and some stadiums not reaching full capacity, Infantino remained satisfied with turnout and overall engagement. He noted that teams were eager to be part of the event.

“All the teams who have come here have been happy, some teams who didn’t come here because they didn’t qualify were calling us to see how they could qualify,” he said.

He addressed the absence of top European clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal, and Barcelona by reminding everyone that qualification is based on performance. “Of course I would have liked to have Liverpool here, Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, Tottenham, AC Milan, Napoli… but you have to qualify and there are different criteria.”

What’s Next for the Club World Cup?

While the next edition of the tournament is scheduled for 2029, Infantino did not confirm whether the Club World Cup could become a biennial event or expand further.

“We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football,” Infantino said.

Despite opposition from critics like former Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp, who labeled the expanded competition “the worst idea ever implemented in football,” Infantino remains committed to the tournament’s future and its role in shaping global club football.

By Yockshard Enyendi