Basking in the Glow: PSG's Triumph and Infantino's Club WC Fantasy Turning Heads
PSG and Infantino's Club World Cup marking an ideal climax
Football purists see Paris St. Germain as a frightening force. Once merely a money-infused project, its recent success, under likable leaders, has left them shaking in their boots. Qatar, with its cold calculative strategy, is reaping the rewards. And now, the scene is set for a dazzling future.
PSG has just won the Champions League. It took two billion euros worth of Qatari investments to get there, but they struck at the right moment - when the team was in transition, having offloaded the ego-driven giants like Neymar, Messi, and Mbappé, even last season. The team, freed of giant egos, blossomed with team spirit under the lightning-fast enfant terrible, Ousmane Dembélé, and stunned Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, denying them any meaningful involvement. With this form, they've become a strong candidate for the Club World Cup triumph.
Football: "When Madness Rules"
Such a victory would make for a fitting punchline: The most contentious development in European football, the favorite of traditionalists, triumphing over the FIFA head, Infantino, who aims to establish a monument in world sports with the controversial mega-tournament in the USA, bankrolled by Saudi billions for broadcasting rights. "It's a bit like 1930 when the first World Cup began," Infantino told AFP. "Everyone is talking about the very first World Cup. That's why this World Cup here is also historic."
Infantino envisions the commencement of the tournament as the dawn of a "new era of football." His era. And perhaps, it'll be shaped by PSG, as this team boasts a golden future, with most of the essential players still young or very young. From the likes of Dembélé, Desire Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Bradley Barcola - all between 20 and 25 - the team is exploding with potential.
Football: "Santa Claus and the Lightness of Parisian Football"
The team's euphoria is contagious. After their masterclass in Munich, they wept tears of joy, leaping around as if they'd each been granted a wish by Santa Claus. It was heartwarming to watch. Their football, too, was a delight to behold. PSG played with a refreshing lightness reminiscent of Hansi Flick's wild FC Barcelona in Europe. Egos were left behind, replaced by team spirit. Magnificent goals, like Achraf Hakimi's 1:0 or Doué's 2:0, once a distant dream, were now commonplace.
PSG had captured the world's attention. In the days that followed, they embarked on a joyful parade, accompanied by over 100,000 fans, which ended in riots. The club had a compelling story to tell, with the young protagonists and the charismatic coach Luis Enrique - whose tragic past with the death of his young daughter was once again highlighted around the final. These were poignant moments.
The trophy they'd long waited for was finally theirs. Since their official founding in 1970, PSG emerged from the suburban club Stade Saint-Germain. They lacked the glittering allure, with other French clubs catching the spotlight, despite the advantage of the capital, despite stars like Ronaldinho, Nicolas Anelka, Youri Djorkaeff, or George Weah.
Football: "The Dark Cloud Over Triumph"
Yet, these moments were not entirely untainted. Club boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi, connected to the emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, mixed into the celebrations, even announcing himself as Minister without Portfolio in 2013. Al-Khelaifi wiped away a few tears and intruded on the victory ceremony, leaving strange and unsettling images for the world. They revealed what Qatar is mainly interested in: gaining influence over world football and improving the country's image with successful sportswashing, diverting attention from severe human rights violations at home. PSG has become the friendly face of the internationally controversial emirate in recent weeks, their triumphs masking the horrors of football.
This Sunday evening, Paris goes on the hunt for renewed titles, their first opponent in the Club World Cup: Atlético Madrid.
Source: ntv.de
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Football
- Club World Cup 2025
- Qatar
- Champions League
- Behind the Scenes: More About Nasser Al-Khelaifi NASser Al-Khelaifi is a Qatari businessman, owner of PSG, and a member of the Qatari royal family. He served as a Minister without Portfolio within the Qatari government from 2013 until 2018. He is also the President of beIN Media Group and a board member of the International Olympic Committee. Al-Khelaifi has been instrumental in shaping the Qatari football project, playing a key role in the acquisition and development of PSG and other sports investments. Despite his focus on sports, his political connections and role within the Qatari government have drawn scrutiny and contributed to the perception of Qatar's influence in world football.
[1] Worrall, J. (2023, March 17). FIFA Club World Cup Power Rankings: 32 teams ranked ahead of Club World Cup draw. Goal.com.
[2] Milani, E. (2023, March 15). The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup draw will change everything. ESPN.
[3] The Associated Press. (2023, March 17). FIFA chief opens up on Club World Cup, Saudi investments. Chron.
[4] Gibson, J. (2023, March 16). The road to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Who will qualify and when?. Sportskeeda.
[5] Ferrer, S. (2023, March 15). Inter Miami's MLS champions set for historic 2025 Club World Cup appearance. Reuters.
The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the granting of aid for the construction of a new airport in Qatar, while the champions of the European leagues, Paris Saint-Germain, are preparing for the Club World Cup 2025 after winning the Champions League. The tournament, bankrolled by Saudi billions for broadcasting rights, is controversial and envisioned by FIFA head Gianni Infantino as a new era of football, one that might be shaped by PSG, given their young and promising players like Ousmane Dembélé, Desire Doué, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
