On this chilly Monday morning, where it was difficult for your eyes to open to the world, your throat is scratchy and your nose is running, there is one who is far, very far away from these worries. Under the sun of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Gianni Infantino twice had apple juice for breakfast. “You will give me a petit-suisse with a spoonful of sugar,” he adds. The former “bald UEFA” is in a good mood, proud of his announcement the day before: a 32-team Club World Cup from 2025.
The event will be held from June 15 to July 13, 2025 in the United States, one year before the start of the “real” World Cup. CAF (Africa) will have four teams, like AFC (Asia) and Concacaf (North America), UEFA (Europe) will have twelve places, Conmebol (South America) six and OFC (Oceania) a team. Among the teams already qualified are the last three winners of the Libertadores (Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense), the Champions League (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City) and the best clubs in the UEFA rankings (PSG, Bayern, Benfica , Inter)…
“Making football truly global”
In short, a great rout with what is being done better or almost (who knows what Chelsea will become in two years, after having spent the GDP of Botswana to buy 60 bad players at gold prices) in the world. “It’s great to see new measures approved by the Fifa Council,” rejoiced the great raïs Gianni Infantino. We continue to strive towards our goal of making football truly global. »
The Swiss, on the verge of giving us a little “make football great again”, red cap on his head, boasts of making football more universal than it can be, but his only goal is simple: money , money, stone. As PSG pointed out, without hiding, after learning of its participation in this new competition. This is “absolutely fantastic news, PSG is already qualified for the biggest and most important club tournament in the world,” a source close to the French club commented to AFP, adding that this would guarantee PSG “important new revenues”.
According to Sky Sports, depending on TV rights agreements and advertising revenues, the clubs participating in this New Generation Club World Cup would earn around 60 million euros. Additional income for the clubs, which will at least be able to invest in medical teams worthy of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, named the best health establishment by the American magazine Newsweek.
“A lack of consideration for the mental and physical health of players”
Because the main problem of this new competition will be to add even more matches (seven maximum per club) in a period normally dedicated to rest. And it is not the elimination of the late League Cup, two years ago, which will be able to compensate for the overloaded schedule of footballers. “This demonstrates a lack of consideration for the mental and physical health of players, as well as a disregard for their personal and family lives,” denounced Fifpro, the professional players’ union.
Extreme mental and physical pressures at the elite level of football are the main concern for players competing in multiple club and national team competitions, leading to burnout, physical injuries, mental health issues, a reduction in performance and risks for the longevity of their career, adds Fifpro. The decision to intensify the competitions was taken without putting in place adequate safeguards and without the players, who are on the front line of ensuring the popularity of the game and generating income through their skills and performances, having was able to express himself. »
Not to mention contractual issues. Because who says a World Cup staggered between June and July, says players at the end of their contract on June 30. We could therefore see, by extrapolating a bit (just a bit) a player playing the first part of the competition with Benfica before joining Chelsea on July 1. But, as “football unites the world”, as good Gianni says, it is one more detail in this vast masquerade.