The Club World Cup may be underway, but empty stadiums, exhausted players and disinterested fans suggest it’s a tournament that’s arrived too soon, writes DYLAN JOHNSON.
Writing for Soccermag, Johnson argues that despite record prize money and a 32-team format, FIFA’s attempt to present the event as a global showpiece is falling flat. A sparse crowd watched Chelsea face LAFC in Atlanta, with scheduling and geography adding to the problems. Meanwhile, player burnout is worsening.
The 2023–24 season recorded 4,123 injuries across Europe’s top leagues, with English clubs suffering most. Newcastle lost 16 players in 20 games, and Rodri missed the run-in with a knee injury. Clubs are stretched, fans aren’t showing up, and unless FIFA rethinks its approach, this expanded tournament may prove more burden than breakthrough.
Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
