Expanded Club World Cup set to have far-reaching impact on global soccer
FIFA's expanded Club World Cup, which gets underway in the United States this weekend, is a controversial addition to the global soccer calendar, and one that could have a far-reaching impact on the sport in the years to come.
The 32-team tournament, with $1 billion dollars in prize money on offer, has been crammed into an already overloaded schedule leading to concerns it will push elite players to breaking point.
It also threatens to upset the balance of domestic and continental club competitions, giving competing teams huge financial advantages over rivals.
Consider the leading clubs in Europe, which is sending 12 teams including Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea.
The chances are high that some will go deep into the Club World Cup, with a maximum of seven games to be played up to the July 13 final.
The riches on offer are extraordinary, up to a possible $125 million for the top-performing European team.
"The Club World Cup model affects the ecosystem of national leagues, especially in Europe," Javier Tebas, the president of Spain's La Liga, told radio station Cadena Cope.
But while the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona will not be in the United States, and will thus miss out on the cash prizes, they will be able to give players a much-needed rest.
"I think it will have a huge impact, and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there," said England manager Thomas Tuchel when asked about the consequences for the Premier League.
Those clubs are already among the world's wealthiest without taking into account the sums being lavished by FIFA, but what about teams elsewhere?
It will become harder for clubs in South Africa to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns once they leave with a guaranteed minimum of almost $10 million — the equivalent of the prize money for winning nine domestic titles.
The amateurs of Auckland City were already dominate in Oceania before being handed $3.5 million just as an appearance fee.
But if taking part will be perhaps the ultimate career highlight for their players, it just adds to the demands on those at top clubs.
The introduction of the competition was met with opposition in Europe, and global players union FIFPro has warned that the wellbeing of many of its members is being threatened by the huge workload they face.
Portugal midfielder Vitinha has played 52 matches for PSG this season, including the Champions League final win over Inter Milan on May 31.
There have also been eight games for Portugal, including the Nations League final last week. Now he is off to the United States with PSG, with potentially no holiday until mid-July.
The next French season is then due to start in mid-August, at the same time as the Premier League and La Liga.
Then at the end of next season, Vitinha should be back in North America with Portugal at the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Such demands on leading stars are why player unions in Europe last year raised the threat of strike action in a bid to cut down on the number of matches.
"The problem is the accumulation of excessively long and intense seasons back to back," said Maheta Molango, chief executive of England's Professional Footballers' Association.
"Players don't think just about the summer, they think about how they are not going to have a holiday for the foreseeable future."
Meanwhile, domestic leagues do not see why they should change to accommodate FIFA's new tournament.
"International organizations and especially FIFA have increased the number of matches they organize, so now we have a calendar that is beyond saturation," said Mathieu Moreuil of the Premier League.
Other competitions are being devalued because the Club World Cup is taking place at the same time, like the CONCACAF Gold Cup, also being played in the United States.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino is unable to call on leading players like Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah because they are at the Club World Cup with Juventus.
"That is the circumstance that we have and we need to adapt," said Pochettino, a former PSG coach who may disagree with the view of Luis Enrique, currently in charge of the French side.
"I think it is an incredible competition," he remarked looking ahead to the Club World Cup.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Times
3 hours ago
- Japan Times
SGA says Thunder have no room for fatigue in NBA Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said there's no room for fatigue with his team down 2-1 to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals. "You got to suck it up," the NBA MVP said Thursday, a day after the Pacers rallied in the fourth quarter to seize the lead in the best-of-seven series with a Game 3 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. "There's a maximum four games left in the season. It's what you worked the whole season for. It's what you worked all summer for. "To me, the way I see it, you got to suck it up, get it done and try to get a win." Gilgeous-Alexander didn't actually acknowledge that fatigue was a factor as his production faded in the fourth quarter of Game 3. Gilgeous-Alexander, the regular-season scoring champion, combined for 72 points in the opening two games, including 34 in Oklahoma City's win in Game 2. But he finished Game 3 with 24 points — just three in the fourth quarter — and committed six turnovers, his most ever in a playoff game. "I think we're trying to make it tough on him," said Indiana's Andrew Nembhard, who has been effective at defending Gilgeous-Alexander. "The biggest thing is just you're persistent, trying to make it tough on him. It's a team job. We all have to be locked in and tied together on that end of the floor to get it done." But Gilgeous-Alexander said he was "not too sure" fatigue played a role when Indiana outscored OKC 32-18 in the fourth quarter. "I don't think so," he said. "It's a physical game. We've had plenty of physical games. We've had games like that where I've been great late, games where I've stunk late." All he can do, he added, was stick to his own game. "It's become so second nature the way I play, the way I think about the game. It's just part of who I am. "My leadership is the same. It's been all year, been organic to who I am." Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was confident Gilgeous-Alexander will adapt. "I think one of his superpowers is the ability to get into the next possession, the next game, the next experience," Daigneault said. "He's the last guy I'm worried about with that."
NHK
3 hours ago
- NHK
Trump blocks California's ban on sales of new gasoline-powered cars
US President Donald Trump has signed congressional resolutions to block California's ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered cars. California Governor Gavin Newsom has reacted sharply to the move. In 2022, California decided to ban the sale of gas-powered and hybrid cars entirely in the state by 2035. The administration of former President Joe Biden approved the bill in December last year. But the Republican-led Congress passed the resolution in May, reversing the Biden administration's approval. Trump signed the resolutions on Thursday, calling the California plan "a disaster." In response, Newsom said, "We won't let this illegal action by Trump and Republicans in the pockets of polluters stand in the way of commonsense policy to clean our air, protect the health of our kids and compete on the global stage." The governor has reportedly directed state officials to find new ways to promote electric and other clean-energy vehicles. Trump and Newsom have also been at odds over a federal roundup of immigrants in Southern California.
Japan Times
4 hours ago
- Japan Times
After Trump feud, role of Musk's SpaceX in Golden Dome missile shield in question
The role of Elon Musk's SpaceX in an ambitious new U.S. missile defense system is in question following the dramatic feud last week between the billionaire entrepreneur and President Donald Trump, according to three people familiar with the project. The White House until recently had considered a plan for SpaceX, Musk's rocket and satellite venture, to partner with software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril to construct crucial elements of the project, dubbed "Golden Dome." The administration had instructed the Pentagon to prioritize a network of satellites for the purpose, these people said. But a new framework for the system, which would seek to track and prevent possible missile attacks against the United States, is now being considered that could reduce the role of SpaceX. One possibility, the three people said, could initially forego SpaceX's satellite capabilities and focus on the expansion of existing ground systems for missile defense, instead. In a statement, a White House spokesperson said "the Trump administration is committed to a rigorous review process for all bids and contracts." A senior Defense Department official said the Pentagon "has no announcements regarding future contracts associated with the Golden Dome effort." SpaceX, Anduril and Palantir didn't respond to requests for comment. A reduced role for SpaceX would represent the first known setback to Musk's huge volume of business with the U.S. government since his break with Trump last week. The shift in plans, especially for a project that Trump has touted as paramount for U.S. defense strategy, also underscores the highly personalized nature of the president's leadership, aerospace and defense experts said. "That people guiding the program or building it are approved based on their political affiliation signals a real concern that the project, itself, is very politicized and not being conducted on the technical merits," said Laura Grego, a missile defense expert and research director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In its statement to Reuters, the White House said any decision would be made "prioritizing the best deal for America and leveraging the most advanced and innovative technology." Trump in May said the defense shield should be operational by the end of his presidency, January 2029. But industry experts have said that timeframe, and a projected cost of some $175 billion, could be too optimistic. The change in the proposed "architecture" of the system, the three people said, could have the political advantage of allowing the current administration to deliver at least a portion of it. It isn't clear how soon a final decision on the project could come or whether the ultimate role of any company, including SpaceX, has been determined. Trump's efforts to roll out the project fast have led to uncertainty about the project's details and a scramble by contractors to be involved, industry experts and some of those involved in its development said. "To this day, no one knows what the requirements are," said one of the people familiar with the process. "There isn't a coordinated effort with a true vision. All of these companies are just grabbing at this pot of money." SpaceX, Anduril and Palantir were all founded by entrepreneurs who have been major political supporters of Trump. The three companies had previously met with top administration officials and decisionmakers from the Defense Department to discuss Golden Dome, according to people familiar with those discussions. Before his high-profile falling out with the president, Musk served as a key Trump advisor and donated more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help elect him. But the recent dispute, which included Musk calling for Trump's impeachment and accusing the president of improper involvement with disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, triggered the change in direction, the three people said. "Because of the blowup, the Pentagon has been given the space to look at other alternatives," one of the people said. In recent days, Musk has sought to temper the dispute, saying he regretted some of his comments and taking down some of his social media criticism of Trump, including the call for impeachment. Earlier this week, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump appreciated Musk's apology and that she was unaware of any administration efforts to review Musk contracts because of the dispute. It could not be determined whether Musk's conciliatory overtures might improve SpaceX's chances of winning Golden Dome contracts or securing further new business with the U.S. government. SpaceX had pitched for a part of the Golden Dome initiative called the "custody layer," a constellation of between 400 and 1,000 satellites that would detect missiles, track their trajectory, and determine if they are heading toward the U.S., it was reported in April. In a Jan. 27 executive order, Trump mandated the selection of a proposed "architecture" for Golden Dome and an implementation plan by the end of March. The order called a missile attack "the most catastrophic threat facing the United States."
