PA Media/dpa
London
Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and the other sides will learn their group-stage opponents in FIFA’s controversial and contested Club World Cup on Thursday.
The new 32-team competition, to be hosted in the United States next summer, has been championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino but is the subject of two legal challenges in Europe, which both involve players’ union FIFPRO.
FIFA is accused of failing to consult adequately with player unions and leagues on the international fixture calendar, with Premier League chief executive Richard Masters describing the introduction of the Club World Cup as the “tipping point”.
Unions’ concerns centre chiefly on player welfare, with players based in Europe who go deep in the tournament set to be afforded very little time to properly rest and recover before the 2025-26 domestic seasons begin.
Players themselves have spoken out, with City midfielder Rodri warning stars were “close” to considering strike action over the congested calendar, with UEFA’s club competitions now also taking up more space.
Leagues fear the Club World Cup will have a negative impact on their competitions, with concerns over whether Manchester City and Chelsea can possibly be at full strength and fitness when the 2025-26 campaign starts on August 17.
The tournament has faced other issues too. As of 1000 GMT Wednesday, no broadcast partners had been confirmed for the tournament, with European club sources having previously expressed frustration and concern at the process FIFA had followed to attract television networks.
FIFA appears to have ruled out using its own reserves to bankroll the event, so the hope will be that lucrative broadcast deals can still be agreed. Football’s global governing body has brought big sponsors on board though, in Bank of America, brewing company AB InBev and Hisense.
Some observers have speculated Saudi Arabia - set to be confirmed as 2034 World Cup hosts next week - could also directly or indirectly provide financial support.
While the competition is viewed sceptically by some in Europe, in other continents the levels of enthusiasm are much higher, with Al Hilal chief executive Esteve Calzada describing it in October as his side’s “single most important competition of the season”.
Four of the eight groups will feature two European teams, but City and Chelsea will be kept apart in the group stage of the tournament.
City and Chelsea qualified as 2023 and 2021 Champions League winners respectively. Other big names from Europe include Champions League holders and record winners Real, Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain, while South American giants Boca Juniors and Flamengo are also involved.
The tournament will kick off with an opening game featuring Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on June 15 next year.
Their involvement as the host nation team is controversial in itself, with Miami having won the regular-season Supporters Shield but then missed out on being crowned Major League Soccer champions with defeat to Atlanta in the MLS Cup play-offs.
The final is set to be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.
