Jurgen Klopp Slams Expanded Club World Cup As ‘Worst Idea Ever’ For Footballers.
Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, has unleashed a scathing critique of the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup, labelling it “the worst idea ever implemented in football” due to its gruelling impact on player workload and recovery time. The expanded 32-team tournament, currently underway in the United States from 14 June to 13 July 2025, has sparked widespread debate, with Klopp’s comments amplifying concerns over player welfare amidst a packed football calendar.
The 2025 Club World Cup, hosted across 12 venues in 11 US cities, features top clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Inter Miami, competing in a World Cup-style format with eight groups of four teams. The tournament, which replaced the seven-team annual event, has already seen thrilling matches, with recent results including Palmeiras edging Botafogo 1-0 and Chelsea advancing past Benfica in a dramatic Round of 16 clash marred by a weather delay. However, Klopp argues that the addition of up to seven matches in a month-long competition, sandwiched between domestic seasons and international tournaments, is pushing players to breaking point.
“The players are not robots,” Klopp said in a recent interview, as reported by *The Sun* and posts on X. “This tournament is a step too far. You’re asking them to play high-intensity matches with barely any rest. It’s not sustainable, and it’s killing the quality of the game.” His remarks resonate with a 2024 FIFPRO report highlighting that elite players face up to 80 matches per season, with injury risks rising due to fixture congestion. Manchester City’s Rodri, who has played in the tournament, previously warned of potential player strikes, a sentiment Klopp has long championed.
The tournament’s group stage has already drawn criticism for low attendance, with reports of “a million empty seats” across 48 games, underscoring fan and player discontent. Posts on X reflect similar frustration, with one user calling the event “a shambles” and accusing FIFA of funnelling funds to wealthy clubs instead of grassroots football. Despite this, FIFA defends the competition, projecting £2 billion in revenue and offering £97 million to the winners, alongside £774 million in total prize money shared among the 32 clubs. The organisation claims the event promotes global football, with teams like Al-Hilal and Mamelodi Sundowns joining European giants.
Klopp’s critique highlights specific challenges. The tournament’s mid-summer timing disrupts players’ recovery periods, particularly after the 2024 UEFA European Championship and Copa América. For instance, Chelsea’s Round of 16 match against Benfica, which took over four hours to complete due to a storm suspension, exemplifies the physical toll on players. Klopp also pointed to the lack of mandatory rest periods post-tournament, with European leagues resuming shortly after the 13 July final at MetLife Stadium.
Supporters have rallied behind Klopp’s stance, with X posts praising his “mentality and resilience” in calling out FIFA’s priorities. Meanwhile, the tournament progresses, with today’s Round of 16 fixtures including Paris Saint-Germain vs. Inter Miami and Flamengo vs. Bayern Munich, streamed live on DAZN. Palmeiras’ victory over Botafogo has set up a quarter-final clash with Chelsea, while Manchester City and Real Madrid remain strong contenders.
As the Club World Cup continues, Klopp’s warnings have sparked renewed calls for FIFA to address fixture overload. With injuries already impacting teams—Real Madrid’s David Alaba is sidelined for the tournament’s remainder—the debate over player welfare is unlikely to fade. Klopp urged authorities to “listen to the players” and rethink scheduling, warning, “If we don’t act now, the game we love will suffer.”
