Jul 22, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; Liverpool Coach Jurgen Klopp applauds the fans after the second half of an International Champions Cup soccer match between Liverpool and the Borussia Dortmund at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

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Expanded Club World Cup Is Football’s ‘Worst Idea Ever’ – Jurgen Klopp

Klopp warned that adding another demanding tournament to the congested football calendar is dangerous for player health.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has criticised FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup, calling it the “worst idea ever” in football. Klopp warned that the tournament will worsen the relentless strain on players’ health. The German is now serving as head of global football for Red Bull after ending his decorated nine-year tenure at Liverpool in 2024.

Klopp voiced his frustration in an interview with Welt am Sonntag as he accused FIFA of failing to understand the “day-to-day business” of club football. He argued that the decisions to expand the CWC were made by those with no practical experience of managing player welfare and workloads.

Whoever Wins CWC Will Be Worst Winner of All Time: Klopp

Klopp acknowledged that the “insane” money involved in the tournament would have convinced some stakeholders. However, he warned that adding another demanding tournament to the congested football calendar is dangerous for player health. Klopp even termed the expanded Club World Cup as a “pointless competition.”

Notably, most players competing in the Club World Cup are doing so on the back of a gruelling schedule for their clubs and national teams. As a result, players are already getting less and less time to rest between seasons.

Klopp said,

“It’s a pointless competition. Whoever wins it will be the worst winner of all time because they’ll have played all summer and then gone straight back into the league. There are people who have never been involved in the day-to-day business of football and are now coming up with ideas.”

“It’s all about the game and not the surrounding events – and that’s why the Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football in this regard.”

Jurgen Klopp called the Club World Cup "the worst idea ever implemented in football." 😳 pic.twitter.com/kLRrAKHHTH
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 28, 2025

The newly revamped FIFA Club World Cup has expanded from a short tournament of seven teams to a 32-team global event to be held every four years. While designed to become a prestigious addition to the global football calendar, it has drawn criticism from Klopp. The German opined that football is heading into unsustainable territory by continually expanding competitions at the expense of players.

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Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.