Club World Cup news: FIFA’s misguided US tournament is nothing more than a ‘boring’ cash grab
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is currently taking place across the United States in a revamped 32-team format, sparking much debate over its place in an already congested and overly commercialised football ecosystem.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire offers her take on the controversial tournament.
Boring football
There it was, like one of those teleshopping channels in a cheap hotel: the Club World Cup in all its lacklustreness.
Having been a vocal critic of the competition since its expansion back in 2022, I thought it would be only fair to watch a game and try to understand the reason for its existence.
In fact, cupped as it is in the grey area between seasons of domestic and international football, the Club World Cup has never been an interest of mine.
Putting my criticisms aside, however, I sat down to watch Atlético Madrid vs Botafogo.
After what felt like two long hours, I stood up to go to bed, only to realise that it was actually just half-time and another 45 minutes of dull plays and fatigued players awaited me.
It really was one of the most boring matches of football I had ever seen.
Cash-grab tournament
For a La Liga title contender like Atlético – a team packed with world-class talent – to put on such a soulless display of football illustrates my biggest issue with the tournament: it's not actually about football or fans.
With £100 million on the line, the motive for the tournament is quite clear.
Take Manchester City, for example – they had a shaky domestic season while still qualifying for the Champions League next term, so a nine-figure sum would go a long way to replacing ageing stars such as Kevin De Bruyne and bringing in fresh blood.
That approach is all good and well for football teams, sure, but it renders the tournament little more than a cash grab in the eyes of the fans.
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FIFA excess
Ultimately, the Club World Cup lacks exciting football because many of the players are fatigued, having played non-stop for the last 10 months.
What is meant to be the off-season is now clogged with FIFA’s latest and most bizarre attempt to cash in.
And with the tournament hosted in the United States and taking place predominantly on US channels, it is moreover squarely aimed at a growing American ‘soccer’ audience.
You can count me out.
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