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yesterday

Klopp Labels Expanded Club World Cup 'Worst Idea Ever' Over Injury Fears

FIFA has pressed ahead with the 32-team tournament in the United States despite repeated player welfare warnings.

Soccer Football - Juergen Klopp press conference - Salzburg, Austria - January 14, 2025 Red Bull's Global Head of Soccer Juergen Klopp during a press conference announcing his new role REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo
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Overview

  • Jurgen Klopp, now Red Bull’s global head of football, condemned the new Club World Cup format as conceived by officials detached from the day-to-day game.
  • He warned that the packed schedule offers no real physical or mental recovery and could trigger unprecedented injuries during or after the tournament.
  • Kevin de Bruyne added that only three weeks separate the Club World Cup final from the Premier League’s start and attributed the format to financial pressures.
  • Players’ union FIFPRO’s call for a mandatory four-week off-season break remains unheeded despite its aim to ease calendar congestion.
  • Since kicking off on June 14, matches in the United States have faced extreme heat delays, underscoring operational strains in a congested preseason.