Hot as French Fries: Europe's Clubs Ready to Sizzle in the 2025 Club-WM
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European teams heating up like sizzling French fries before the Club World Cup tournament - European teams set to compete in the World Cup are burning hot, according to Watzke's prediction.
The historic stakes are high for German powerhouses Bayern and Borussia Dortmund as they prepare to make their mark at the extensively revamped Club-WM. "It's a sporty juggernaut - a chance to snatch the first globally-contested tournament spanning all continents, and that'd be historical," said Bayern's CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen in a candid tête-à-tête with Borussia Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke in a special issue (11th June) of the Munich-based media group Münchner Merkur/tz.
"Every footie fan remembers Uruguay winning the inaugural World Cup in 1930. Much like that, the first Club-WM victor will go down in history," underscored Watzke. A colossal 32 teams are set to take center stage in the US starting this weekend through mid-July. Champions League heavyweights Bayern and Dortmund are the sole Bundesliga representatives within this tournament lineup.
High stakes, hefty travel bills
Europe's football heavyweights are "on fire like French fries," claimed Watzke: "Nobody's slacking off a millimeter!" Financially, that hits home as Dreesen promptly highlighted:
The tournament boasts a staggering $1 billion purse[1] (approximately €876 million). The winning team of the final on 13th July in East Rutherford stands to receive a potential haul of $125 million (around €110 million) in prize money[1]. "Though the sum may be exorbitant, you've got to split that by four," Watzke pointed out. "Consider that the Champions League unfolds annually, in contrast to the four-yearly Club-WM. Plus, additional matches boost player bonuses, and astronomical travel expenses come into play." The Club-WM's 63 matches will play out across 12 stadiums.
Are we seeing a clear winner?
The two football supremos hesitated to offer a firm title prediction. "It's much like the Champions League: Initially, we'd wish to progress through the group phase, then from the round of 16 into the quarter-finals, and from the quarter-finals into the semi-finals. And so on. But we shouldn't kid ourselves, thinking that solely European teams stand a chance," said Watzke. "Our aim is always to capture trophies. But first, we need to navigate the group and make it to the knockout phase," elucidated Dreesen.
He anticipates at least one European team in the final, "possibly two." Watzke sees Paris Saint-Germain, fresh off their maiden Champions League victory[2], as the front-runner for the trophy. "An expertly assembled team capable of burning the midnight oil even when the energy reserves dwindle. My top pick," he declared.
With top-tier teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Chelsea also vying for the title[3], the 2025 Club-WM promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with unexpected twists and turns at every corner.
[1] Money.CNN.com[2] Bleacherreport.com[3] UEFA.com
The Commission has also asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in football leagues, such as the European-leagues and the Premier League.
The historical significance of Uruguay winning the inaugural World Cup in 1930 is commonly compared to the potential success of European teams, like Paris Saint-Germain, in the 2025 Club-WM, which boasts a $1 billion purse and features teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Chelsea.
