Last Updated:
FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted that the upcoming CWC in the USA will prove to be a landmark tournament in the football calendar.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestures toward the FIFA Club World Cup soccer trophy during a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Monday, April 14, 2025, to discuss the upcoming 2025 Club World Cup which is to be hosted by Atlanta this summer. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
The revamped edition of the FIFA Club World Cup is set to get underway on the 15th of June in the United States of America, with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami taking on Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly at the Hard Rock Stadium in the new 32-team group and knockout tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted that the upcoming event will prove to be a landmark tournament in the football calendar and drew parallels between the CWC and the very first edition of the FIFA World Cup in Uruguay.
“It starts a new era of football, a new era of club football. A little bit like when, in 1930, the first World Cup, right, started,” Infantino said.
“Everyone today speaks about the very first World Cup. That’s why it’s also, this World Cup here is historic,” the 55-year-old added.
Infantino stressed on the importance of inclusivity and the ability of the revamped event to further globalise the tournament.
“We want to be inclusive. We want to give opportunities to clubs from all over the world,” the Swiss added.
“It’s really to globalise football, to make it truly, truly global. Because when you scratch the surface, we say it’s the number one sport in the world, and it is but then the elite is very concentrated in very few clubs, in very few countries,” he said.
Infantino alluded to the opportunities the CWC will open up to a wider array of football teams, players and fans as he noted the example of Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, who never got to participate in the FIFA World Cup.
“Countries who would never have a chance to play in a World Cup are suddenly part of a World Cup and they feel to be part of it, the fans of these players and of these clubs,” he added.
“A very good friend of mine is George Weah, former legend, great player, Ballon d’Or winner, only African player who ever won the Ballon d’Or, by the way. He never played in a World Cup. He would have been playing in a Club World Cup and made not only his club and also his country proud,” Infantino recollected.
The 55-year-old expressed confidence in the promise of the event and reiterated that the world will take notice of the tectonic shift FIFA looks to script once the tournament gets underway.
“I believe, I’m convinced that, you know, as soon as the ball starts rolling, the whole world will realise what is happening here. It’s something special,” he said.
The Swiss also noted the challenges that come along with holding office at the world governing body and hoped for sold out crowds at the marquee event.
“I’m a positive person generally, but they criticise FIFA if the prices are too high, then they criticise FIFA if the prices are too low,” he reflected.
“Then they criticise FIFA if we make ticketing promotions with students. Students! I mean, when I was a student and I didn’t have money, I would have loved FIFA to come to me and say, you want to come and watch a World Cup match?”
“We don’t want to see empty stadiums. I believe the stadiums will be pretty full,” he added.
“In terms of inclusivity, in terms of economy, in terms of fan interest, you take all of these criteria, we’ll speak again at the end of the club World Cup, but already now, I feel positive, when I look at the number of tickets sold, and I look at the TV rights,” he continued.
Infantino also shed light on the increase in the level of security around the tournament and sought to foster safety at the watershed tournament.
“Security for me and for us is a top priority, always. So when something is happening, like in Los Angeles we are obviously monitoring the situation, we are in constant contact with the authorities, we want fans to go in games in a safe environment,” he signed off.
- First Published:
