The Premier League has officially complained to FIFA regarding the proposed new structure of the Club World Cup, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The projected schedule suggests a challenging scenario for leading teams like Manchester City and Chelsea, who may have to endure a strenuous series of seven games in just four weeks during the summer of 2025.
This complaint was led by the World Leagues Forum, which represents 44 major domestic leagues and has significant influence. The Forum’s complaint to FIFA highlights several issues, with the primary concerns being the neglect of player well-being and the apparent focus on financial benefits at the expense of the sport’s integrity.
The revamped Club World Cup format is causing disruption to the traditional football calendar, with the final scheduled just three weeks before the commencement of the next domestic season, raising the risk of player exhaustion.
The Premier League and its European counterparts are worried about the additional strain on top players, which could be detrimental.
There’s also an underlying issue of FIFA’s perceived self-interest. The Forum accuses FIFA of using clubs and leagues as tools for revenue generation, serving the purpose of increasing FIFA’s profits.
The huge prize money on offer, including a total fund of around £2 billion, with participation fees of £50 million and a grand prize of £100 million for the winning team, adds to these concerns.
The financial sustainability of the Club World Cup is in doubt, with broadcast rights and sponsorship agreements yet to be finalized.
Fans are concerned about the potential impact on players, who could be overworked in what is seen as an overblown exhibition event, and the increasing costs of tickets and packed schedules.
Although there has been a strong and immediate backlash against these plans, it remains uncertain whether this widespread disapproval will lead to any changes, or if the new Club World Cup format will still go ahead as planned.
