FIFA has announced that the draw for the first edition of the new Club World Cup in 2025 will take place in December.

With preparations underway, the inaugural tournament has polarized opinion within the football world. In consideration of player workload, club profits and sponsor rights, the proposed changes to the Club World Cup have sparked mixed reactions, especially in Europe.

Neymar (Top) of Barcelona controls the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup final against River Plate in Yokohama, Japan, Dec 20, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited China in October to promote the 2025 Club World Cup and announced that Chinese white goods manufacturer Hisense had become the tournament's first global partner.

Embracing both controversy and opportunity, what's the future of the new Club World Cup?

REFORM AMID CONTROVERSY

From the beginning, the new Club World Cup has been mired in controversy.

In the past, the FIFA Club World Cup was an annual competition featuring seven teams, including continental champions. Due to the restricted number of participants and the predictability of the results, its influence was limited.

In 2019, FIFA announced its ambition to restructure the Club World Cup. The format was finally confirmed at the end of 2022, with 32 teams participating in the quadrennial competition. In late 2023, FIFA confirmed that the first edition of the new Club World Cup would be held in the United States in June and July 2025, aiming to establish it as a flagship FIFA tournament alongside the World Cup.

However, even for FIFA, adjusting the congested international football calendar is no simple task. Last month, the European division of player union FIFPRO and the 33-nation European Leagues group filed a formal complaint with the European Commission on competition grounds, accusing FIFA of failing to consult properly on its decisions.

Critics noted that adding a major tournament like the Club World Cup places an extra workload on elite players, increasing the risk of injuries, while the potential impact on scheduling and commercial revenues could also hurt European leagues' interests.

As the hub of elite players and clubs, Europe has traditionally dominated club competitions, and therefore the opposition from some European representatives adds uncertainty to the new tournament. As of now, the broadcasting arrangements for the 2025 Club World Cup remain undecided.

Addressing the criticisms, Infantino said, "With this one or two percent of matches that FIFA organizes, FIFA is financing football all over the world. The revenues that we generate are not just going to a few clubs in one country. The revenues that we generate are going to 211 member associations all over the world."

FIFA stated that the new Club World Cup was developed in consultation with European Club Association and was unanimously approved by FIFA Council members, including UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, emphasizing that the event will not increase players' workload as it replaces the previous Confederations Cup in the calendar. "We're not just adding another tournament; we're replacing one."

As the legal proceedings are still pending, FIFA is looking for better negotiations. It said in late October that Arsene Wenger, legendary former coach and FIFA's chief of Global Football Development, would lead discussions with FIFPRO, clubs and leagues to explore ways to protect players' welfare.

Finding a balance between commercial growth and protecting the interests of players and clubs will be crucial to ensuring the success of the new Club World Cup, which signifies Infantino's vision of changing global club football.

OPPORTUNITIES FROM REFORM

Despite the controversies, the new Club World Cup will fill the gap in the international football calendar in those years without a World Cup or the UEFA European Championship.

The 2025 Club World Cup features not only European giants including Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich, but also South American powerhouses like River Plate, Boca Juniors and Flamengo. In addition, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Neymar's Al Hilal will also compete.

With expected high prize money and the appeal of being world champions, FIFA claims all participating clubs are enthusiastic to take part in the new competition.

However, FIFA's goal in reforming the Club World Cup goes beyond fan appeal. As Infantino explained, "We need to create global events, in which the world can participate rather than just a few players or clubs in a very few countries. The Club World Cup opens doors for clubs worldwide to showcase their brands and help their players and teams grow."

According to the format, the new Club World Cup will feature 12 clubs from Europe, six from South America, and four each from Asia, Africa and CONCACAF, along with one club from Oceania and the host nation's team.

In a landscape where European football largely takes a grip on core resources, the new Club World Cup offers more non-European clubs a stage to compete with the world's best. Additionally, FIFA revealed plans to provide 'solidarity payments' to non-participating clubs.

Despite the absence of Chinese clubs at the inaugural edition of the new Club World Cup, Chinese enterprises have taken the lead in commercial sponsorship, highlighted by Hisense becoming the first global partner for the 2025 tournament. Hisense chairman Jia Shaoqian said that the new Club World Cup represents a global top-tier club competition. "We hope that our sponsorship will boost brand exposure and support our global growth strategy."

As China's economy keeps growing steadily, more Chinese brands are looking to expand their international influence by sponsoring top football events. With high demand and limited slots in top events, the new Club World Cup provides brands with new opportunities. "We have a strong history of cooperation with many Chinese companies. Today, Chinese companies are not just domestic entities; they are global players. Through collaboration, we can promote football's growth together," Infantino said.

The FIFA chief has higher hopes for Chinese football as well, expressing his desire that Chinese clubs participate in the Club World Cup and then envisioning China hosting this event in the future. "China is a key potential host for various World Cups, whether the men's or women's World Cup, youth tournaments, or the Club World Cup."

In his vision, the new Club World Cup embodies the goal of "making football truly global". For both China and the world, this tournament brings new opportunities to reshape the global club competition landscape. 

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