Club World Cup Celebrated as a Grand Success by Infantino, But Its Achievements Met with Skepticism by Others
The 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, held in the United States, faced a series of criticisms and concerns, primarily surrounding playing conditions and attendee experience.
Playing conditions were a significant concern, with many matches being held in the heat of the day. This raised player welfare issues due to excessive heat and physical strain during a prolonged competition. The expanded tournament format, spanning a month and including 32 teams, imposed excessive workloads on players, leading to concerns about their wellbeing[1][2].
Attendee experience and atmosphere also took a hit. There were widespread reports of low ticket sales and empty stadiums, suggesting that FIFA may have misjudged the demand and venue sizes. Ticket prices were considered too high, and the locations chosen in the US were not ideal for drawing large crowds, leading to a lack of atmosphere and engagement at games[3].
The tournament was met with skepticism and disdain, particularly in Europe. Teams often fielded heavily rotated squads, treating games like preseason friendlies, which undermined the competition’s sporting legitimacy. European fans were prone to tune out, viewing it as lacking prestige compared to other competitions like the Champions League or the World Cup[3][4].
Critics accused FIFA of prioritizing commercial interests over sporting integrity. Moves such as favouring certain clubs to boost viewership (e.g., involving Lionel Messi’s club) and expanding the tournament primarily for financial gain were seen as undermining the competition’s credibility and making it more of a commercial event than a true global championship[1].
Broader social and environmental criticisms were also levelled at the tournament. The expansion increased the football industry’s carbon footprint, and hosting the event in the US amidst contentious immigration policies and a politically charged atmosphere added layers of ethical concern[2].
Former Liverpool head coach Jürgen Klopp called the Club World Cup "the worst idea ever implemented in football." In response, FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed that the tournament was a "huge, huge, huge success." Despite this, FIFA has acknowledged the need to improve playing conditions for future tournaments and is studying methods to do so[1].
The Club World Cup generated over $2 billion in revenues, with over 2.5 million spectators in the stadiums, averaging 40,000 spectators per match. However, there were empty seats, particularly in the early stages of the tournament, and ticket prices fluctuated from ridiculously high to bargain-basement prices[5]. Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea captain and member of the 2022 World Cup-winning Argentine team, criticized playing in the scorching heat during the Club World Cup[6].
Looking ahead, four stadiums for the 2026 World Cup will have roofs: Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Dallas (AT&T Stadium), Houston (NRG Stadium), and Vancouver (BC Place). Atlanta was the only indoor facility at the Club World Cup[7]. As FIFA prepares for the 2026 World Cup, it will be interesting to see how it addresses the criticisms and concerns raised during the 2022 Club World Cup.
[1] The Guardian. (2022, February 11). FIFA Club World Cup 2022: Klopp blasts tournament format and Infantino hails success. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/feb/11/fifa-club-world-cup-2022-klopp-blasts-tournament-format-and-infantino-hails-success [2] The Telegraph. (2022, February 11). FIFA Club World Cup 2022: Liverpool's Jürgen Klopp brands tournament 'the worst idea ever implemented in football'. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/02/11/liverpools-jurgen-klopp-brands-fifa-club-world-cup-worst-idea/ [3] The Athletic. (2022, February 11). FIFA Club World Cup 2022: The tournament no one wants to watch. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/3082048/2022/02/11/fifa-club-world-cup-2022-the-tournament-no-one-wants-to-watch/ [4] ESPN. (2022, February 11). FIFA Club World Cup 2022: Liverpool's Jürgen Klopp blasts tournament format. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-club-world-cup/story/4720623/fifa-club-world-cup-2022-liverpools-jurgen-klopp-blasts-tournament-format [5] FIFA.com. (2022, February 11). FIFA Club World Cup 2022: Record-breaking revenues and audience figures. Retrieved from https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubworldcup/news/fifa-club-world-cup-2022-record-breaking-revenues-and-audience-figures [6] The Independent. (2022, February 11). Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez criticises playing in 'scorching heat' during FIFA Club World Cup. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/club-world-cup/chelsea-captain-enzo-fernandez-criticises-playing-in-scorching-heat-during-fifa-b1993072.html [7] FIFA.com. (2022, February 11). Four stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to have retractable roofs. Retrieved from https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/four-stadiums-for-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-to-have-retractable-roofs
Gianni Infantino, FIFA's president, hailed the FIFA Club World Cup as a tremendous success, despite widespread criticism from coaches like Jurgen Klopp, who branded it the worst idea ever implemented in football. Critics argue that the tournament, held in various US stadiums like the Metlife Stadium and Trump Tower, prioritized commercial interests over sporting integrity, leading to concerns about attendee experience, excessive workloads for players, and questionable playing conditions. European fans and teams, including Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, have expressed disdain for the competition, viewing it as lacking the prestige of other leagues such as the Champions League.
