FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hailed the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as “the most successful club competition in the world,” citing impressive revenue figures and global engagement, despite early skepticism from players, pundits, and fans.
Speaking during a press conference at Trump Tower in New York City on July 12, 2025, ahead of the final clash between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Infantino praised the financial and structural success of the 32-team tournament.
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“We can definitely say this FIFA Club World Cup has been a huge success,” Infantino told reporters. “We heard that financially it would not work, that nobody is interested, but I can say we generated almost $2.1 billion in revenues from 63 matches.”
According to the FIFA boss, the tournament averaged $33 million per match, an unmatched figure in global club football.
“No other club competition in the world comes close. It is already the most successful club competition globally,” he declared.
Club World Cup 2025: Mixed Reactions but Financial Success
The 2025 edition is the first Club World Cup to feature 32 teams, marking a major shift in FIFA’s competition structure. However, it has faced criticism over player fatigue, the tight football calendar, and extreme summer heat in the United States, where the tournament is being hosted.
One of the most vocal critics, former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, described the expanded tournament as “the worst idea ever implemented in football.” But Infantino dismissed suggestions that such views represent the majority opinion in Europe.
- “We shouldn’t say that the opinion of Europe on this is very bad because it is not true,” he said. “All the teams who have come here have been happy.”
- He also mentioned that even clubs that didn’t qualify had contacted FIFA about future qualification opportunities.
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“Of course, I would’ve liked to see Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona, AC Milan, and others. But you have to qualify.”
What’s Next for the Club World Cup?
When asked about the future format of the tournament, Infantino declined to commit to a fixed schedule. The next edition is slated for 2029, but questions remain on whether the tournament will shift to a biennial format or possibly expand further.
“We created something new, something that is here to stay, and something that is changing the landscape of club football,” Infantino concluded.
The 2025 final between Chelsea and PSG is expected to cap off what FIFA considers a transformative moment in football history.
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