A champion will be crowned at the Club World Cup on Sunday – do fans care?
Fifa's expanded Club World Cup, Gianni Infantino's dream, has had mixed reviews, depending on the location and disposition of the reviewer. In the UK, the response has been lukewarm at best.
Manchester City's exit to Al-Hilal raised eyebrows and was received as a sign of continuing difficulties for Pep Guardiola, whereas in the Arabian Peninsula states, this was a seismic result. Saudi Arabian football, though with a team ram-packed with European talent, had taken its first victory over the Premier League's previously serial champions, and a club owned by Abu Dhabi.
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Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Infantino declares Club World Cup success, despite critics
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Legends Event - New Jersey, U.S. - July 12, 2025 FIFA president Gianni Infantino talks as former footballers Alessandro Del Piero, Kaka, Roberto Baggio, Ronaldo, Hristo Stoichkov and Esteban Cambiasso look on during a Legends event with the trophy FIFA/Handout via REUTERS NEW YORK - On the eve of the Club World Cup final, FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the tournament a success, learning from the criticisms leveled at the event on issues ranging from extreme heat to stadiums that were only half full for some matches. Infantino said he preferred to have more fans in larger stadiums even if it meant they did not fill them and suggested stadiums with roofs could be prioritised for day games during next year's World Cup which will also be hosted in the United States along with Canada and Mexico. "Of course, every criticism that we receive is a source for us to study, to analyse to see what we can do better,' Infantino said at a media event at Trump Tower in New York on Saturday. "I prefer to put, I don't know, 35,000 people in an 80,000-seater stadium rather than 20,000 in a 20,000-seater stadium," he said. 'The heat is definitely an issue. It's an issue all over the world… We have stadiums as well, which are covered. So, we'll definitely use these stadiums more in the day," added Infantino. The FIFA president also said the idea that European spectators and clubs were particularly critical was not founded. "We shouldn't say that the opinion of Europe on this is very bad because it's not true. I have been speaking to the teams who came here. They've all been happy to come here. To the fans who came here, they've all been happy to come here," Infantino said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Prison school to NUS: At 36, former drug abuser finds it's never too late to get a degree Singapore Bland and boring? Some hospitals seek help from big names to enhance food menus for patients Asia Patriotism, peace and pain: The politics behind China's World War II narrative World US slaps 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico; EU warns of countermeasures Brazilian great Ronaldo, who was at the event along with other former players, echoed the FIFA president and said the criticisms had been limited. "I just saw two guys doing the critiques about FIFA Club World Cup. One of them, he hates everything else but the Liga," Ronaldo said. "And the other - we respect the opinion, but I think as the president told you about the facts and the numbers and the enthusiasm of the people and the fans and the quality of the games, I think it has been a huge success." With U.S. President Donald Trump set to attend the final, Infantino defended his close relationship to the current administration, saying it was fundamental to organise the mega events. "(Trump) embraced, immediately, the importance of the FIFA Club World Cup. And then, of course, of the World Cup next year. "You cannot even think of organising an event like this, like the Club World Cup… without the full engagement and full support of the government," he said. Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea in the tournament's finale at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday. REUTERS
CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
Infantino declares Club World Cup success, despite critics
NEW YORK :On the eve of the Club World Cup final, FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the tournament a success, learning from the criticisms leveled at the event on issues ranging from extreme heat to stadiums that were only half full for some matches. Infantino said he preferred to have more fans in larger stadiums even if it meant they did not fill them and suggested stadiums with roofs could be prioritised for day games during next year's World Cup which will also be hosted in the United States along with Canada and Mexico. "Of course, every criticism that we receive is a source for us to study, to analyse to see what we can do better,' Infantino said at a media event at Trump Tower in New York on Saturday. "I prefer to put, I don't know, 35,000 people in an 80,000-seater stadium rather than 20,000 in a 20,000-seater stadium," he said. 'The heat is definitely an issue. It's an issue all over the world… We have stadiums as well, which are covered. So, we'll definitely use these stadiums more in the day," added Infantino. The FIFA president also said the idea that European spectators and clubs were particularly critical was not founded. "We shouldn't say that the opinion of Europe on this is very bad because it's not true. I have been speaking to the teams who came here. They've all been happy to come here. To the fans who came here, they've all been happy to come here," Infantino said. Brazilian great Ronaldo, who was at the event along with other former players, echoed the FIFA president and said the criticisms had been limited. "I just saw two guys doing the critiques about FIFA Club World Cup. One of them, he hates everything else but the Liga," Ronaldo said. "And the other - we respect the opinion, but I think as the president told you about the facts and the numbers and the enthusiasm of the people and the fans and the quality of the games, I think it has been a huge success." With U.S. President Donald Trump set to attend the final, Infantino defended his close relationship to the current administration, saying it was fundamental to organise the mega events. "(Trump) embraced, immediately, the importance of the FIFA Club World Cup. And then, of course, of the World Cup next year. "You cannot even think of organising an event like this, like the Club World Cup… without the full engagement and full support of the government," he said.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Blackstenius hits top form as Sweden win Women's Euro group
Sweden's Stina Blackstenius has timed the peak of her goal-scoring form perfectly, netting the winner for her club Arsenal in the recent Champions League final and then scoring against Poland and Germany as her side blazed their way into the quarter-finals at the Women's Euros as Group C winners. The Swedes beat Germany 4-1 to rack up a perfect nine points from their three games, and they will face the runner-up in Group D, which features England, France, Netherlands and Wales, while the Germans will meet the winners of that group. "I'm very happy that I've gained the confidence to play and I am happy with the goal that we got here today, but mainly because of the win today and that we are still in the tournament," a beaming Blackstenius told reporters. Despite playing her club football in England, Blackstenius said she had not thought about who Sweden might meet in the quarter-finals. "I don't want to stand here and say that I prefer any of the teams -- it's an incredibly good team, no matter who we face, so it will be very exciting to see how it ends (in Group D) tomorrow, and then we will continue to prepare ourselves, regardless of which team we play against," she said. The two teams also enjoyed enormous support, with a yellow wall of Swedish fans behind one of the goals that sang and drummed from beginning to end, building a big-game atmosphere. "I enjoy being at championships. It's something extra to experience. There's something with these games that makes it extra special," Blackstenius said. "When I look up at our fans today, I think they're very visible, and it also gives a feeling that we're doing this together. There's a lot that drives me in the whole set-up, with all the support and knowing that there are family and friends here." REUTERS
