The international football community is divided regarding the large-scale transformation of the Club World Cup, after its leader Gianni Infantino presented an unequivocally optimistic assessment of the new tournament format.
In a statement made at Trump Tower in New York, Infantino emphatically stated that the competition marks the beginning of a "golden era" in global club football. According to official data, the tournament has attracted over 2.5 million spectators, which makes an average of around 40,000 people per match - a statistic that the FIFA president defines as unprecedented.
The financial results are impressive - over 2 billion dollars in revenue have been generated, which makes an average of 33 million dollars profit per match. This figure sharply contrasts with the preliminary pessimistic forecasts about the tournament's economic viability.
Despite Infantino's confident claims, the tournament faces serious criticism from leading football specialists. Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp described the new format as "the worst idea ever applied in football".
Extreme climatic conditions in the USA create additional challenges. Temperatures reach 38 degrees Celsius, which forced several footballers like Jude Bellingham, Reece James, and Enzo Fernandez to express serious concerns about player safety.
FIFA leadership acknowledges the heat problems, with Infantino promising more attention to conditions during the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The use of covered stadiums in cities like Vancouver, Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles is planned.
The Fifpro Players' Union even recommended postponing or relocating some matches due to overheating risks, which further highlighted the complexity of the organization.
The final match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain will be the culmination of this controversial tournament, which according to Infantino represents "the most successful club competition in the world".
Regardless of different perspectives, the new Club World Cup format will undoubtedly remain one of the most discussed experiments in modern football.