Infantino hails Club World Cup as ‘most successful competition in the World’

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described the newly expanded Club World Cup as the “most successful club competition in the world” as the tournament heads into its final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. 

The 32-team competition, held in the United States, faced stiff criticism prior to kickoff, particularly over concerns about its strain on elite players, soaring temperatures, and underwhelming stadium attendances.

Despite these issues, Infantino said he was satisfied with the tournament’s outcome, boasting impressive financial returns. Speaking to journalists at Trump Tower in New York, where FIFA recently opened a new office, he revealed that the competition generated nearly $2.1 billion in revenue from 63 matches — an average of $33 million per game.

“We heard it would not work, that nobody would be interested, but it has been a huge success,” Infantino declared. “The golden age of club football has started.”

The tournament has attracted criticism from European football circles, with former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp notably branding it “the worst idea ever implemented in football.” Infantino, however, dismissed suggestions that European opinion was entirely against the event.

“All the teams who came have been happy, and even those who didn’t qualify were asking how they could get in,” he stated. “Of course, I would have loved to see Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona, and others here — but you have to qualify.”

Infantino avoided confirming whether the tournament might shift to a biennial schedule or expand further in future editions but maintained it had already changed the face of club football. The next edition of the Club World Cup is scheduled for 2029.