Infantino hails expanded FIFA Club World Cup as ‘huge success’
The FIFA chief called it the start of a "golden age" for club soccer
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the expansion of the Club World Cup, saying the 32-team tournament had become the planet’s “most successful club competition.”
“The golden age of club football has started,” he said during a media briefing at New York’s Trump Tower on the eve of Sunday’s final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at MetLife Stadium. “We can definitely say this FIFA Club World Cup has been a huge success.”
Infantino’s framing of the Club World Cup as a triumph aligns with his broader push to globalize the club game beyond Europe’s Champions League.
Infantino cited several metrics to support his claims. Most notably, Infantino said, the new-look tournament defied the skeptics and attracted 2.5 million fans from 168 countries to the 11 venues across the United States. Games averaged 40,000 spectators per match.
“I prefer to put 35,000 people in an 80,000-seat stadium than 20,000 in a 20,000-seat stadium,” Infantino added.
He appeared alongside the Club World Cup trophy and enlisted the help of six former players — Alessandro Del Piero, Kaka, Roberto Baggio, Ronaldo, Hristo Stoichkov, and Esteban Cambiasso — to counter criticism the competition has faced since it kicked off on June 14.
Criticisms of the Club World Cup has revolved around the extension of the club calendar for many European clubs deep into the summer, low attendance during many opening round matches and midday kickoffs during heat waves. Others have gone further, labeling the tournament an Infantino “vanity project” as a way to maintain power to FIFA’s attempt of cozying up to authoritarians.
But Infantino defended his relationship with President Donald Trump, saying it comes from FIFA’s need to receive government support in order for the United States, alongside Mexico and Canada, to co-host next summer’s World Cup. FIFA announced this past week that it had opened an office inside Trump Tower, further boosting its ties to the president.
“[Trump] embraced immediately the importance of the FIFA Club World Cup, and the World Cup next year,” Infantino added.
Infantino said his friendship with Trump began when he saw a soccer net outside a window during his first visit to the White House.
“[Trump] explained to me his son loved football,” Infantino recalled of the meeting during Trump’s first term. “And of course, when you are a parent, you love what your children love. So, I would think [Trump] loves [soccer].”
Trump is expected to attend the Club World Cup final, which is expected to draw more than 70,000 fans. The final will also feature a pre-game performance by singers Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini. In a first for FIFA, the game will also feature a Super Bowl-style halftime show with J Balvin, Doja Cat and Tems.
“It is already the most successful club competition in the world," Infantino said.
The next Club World Cup is scheduled for 2029, but Infantino declined to comment on whether the tournament could be played in the U.S. once again, every two years or expanded to include more teams.
"We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football,” he said.
Infantino also said the Club World Cup will give FIFA an opportunity “to look at what we can do better” in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
“We can improve. We have to improve,” he said. “And we will improve.”