The Lackluster Kickoff of the Club World Cup: FC Bayern Shines, While Infantino's Tournament Stumbles
Bayern Munich is excelling, while Infantino's Club World Cup is struggling with cramps
In the first week of the Club World Cup, spectators have been left less than impressed. Empty seats, scoreless draws, and a spectacular victory by FC Bayern against a team of amateurs under the moniker "Teachers' Union" from New Zealand have led to a somewhat anti-climactic start.
Fan-favorite Thomas Müller was the star of the show on Sunday afternoon. Not only did he score two goals against Auckland City FC, but he also posed for photos with the opposing team, who viewed their encounter with the Bayern star as the highlight of their careers. Müller joked that he ran out of jerseys to give away.
An Unremarkable Win: Bayern vs. The Teachers' Union
While Müller insisted that the tournament is an "interesting event" for the club, the win against Auckland can hardly be considered a significant achievement, especially since Auckland's players are amateurs. The match has been compared to a first-round game in the DFB Pokal against a lower-league team. Ouch!
The Club World Cup, with its acquisition by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, is intended to be a prestige event. For weeks, U.S. television has been airing commercials hyping up a "golden summer" and praising the tournament as the "most desired" in club football. But as Infantino promised to Donald Trump at the White House, the opening was more tinny than golden.
First, FIFA struggled to fill the stadium in Miami for the opening match on Saturday evening, despite the presence of Lionel Messi playing for Inter Miami against Al Ahly from Egypt. In the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, there were clearly numerous empty seats for FC Bayern's game against Auckland City FC.
A Draw Among the Worst Things for U.S. Sports Fans
One of the worst things for U.S. sports fans is scoreless draws, and unfortunately, there have already been two of those in the first four games. The match between FC Porto and Palmeiras on Sunday also ended goalless.
In the coming days, heavyweights such as FC Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Argentina's Boca Juniors, and River Plate from Buenos Aires, and others will begin their opening matches. Fans are eagerly awaiting the confrontations, but the question remains: where does the inflated, revamped Club World Cup fit in the football galaxy?
Plenty of Sports Choices for Club World Cup Fans
The Club World Cup isn't the only major sporting event currently happening in the U.S. There are plenty of other options to satisfy sports enthusiasts. The Gold Cup - the continental championship of North and Central America, as well as the Caribbean - has already started, while the NBA and NHL playoffs are heating up. Both leagues promise thrilling finishes, and Major League Baseball has already begun its season.
There's no summer gap that needs to be filled for soccer fans, and the Club World Cup's underwhelming start doesn't help it stand out in a crowded sports landscape. Therefore, it's no surprise that even Bayern Munich - one of the most internationally recognized football clubs - couldn't sell out the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
The Controversial Club World Cup
The buildup to the Club World Cup was marked by controversy and uncertainty. High initial ticket prices, fixture congestion, player welfare concerns, mixed interest in host cities, and perceptions of the tournament being overhyped have all contributed to its lackluster reception. It remains to be seen whether these issues will be addressed for future editions of the tournament.
Fatima Ibrahim, a sports journalist, observed that "the quality of this year's Club World Cup is simply not up to par. It feels rushed and hyped, and it's difficult to see this tournament achieving The Athletic's prediction as a long-term success."
- Fifa
- Gianni Infantino
- Football
- Club World Cup 2025
- FC Bayern Munich
Extracted Insights:
- High initial ticket prices may have deterred fans from attending the Club World Cup games.
- Criticism of the tournament focuses on its over hyping and fixture congestion that could potentially risk player welfare.
- Mixed interest in host cities may have contributed to the low attendance figures for the Club World Cup games.
- The Club World Cup's perceived lack of prestige may have reduced its appeal to fans.
- The tournament faces competition from other major sporting events in the U.S.
- The controversial buildup to the tournament may have hurt its chances of long-term success.
The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, in their roles as governing bodies of the European Union, may not be directly involved in the Club World Cup. However, to address the perceptions of the tournament being overhyped and attract more fans, the European Parliament could discuss implementing measures to regulate sports marketing in a future session.
Gianni Infantino, as the president of Fifa, is heavily invested in the success of the Club World Cup. To ensure better attendance and prestige for the Club World Cup 2025, Infantino could work collaboratively with FC Bayern Munich, one of the most recognized football clubs in the world, to address issues such as ticket pricing, player welfare concerns, and mixed interest in host cities.
