In an interview with German newspaper Die Welt published on 27/6, Klopp said the expanded FIFA Club World Cup will place an unbearable strain on players' already packed schedules. The former Liverpool manager called the format change "the worst idea" in football.

"It's a meaningless competition. Whoever wins it will be the worst winner of all time because they'll have to play throughout the summer and then immediately start the new season," Klopp said. "There are people who have never been involved in the day-to-day work of football and now they're coming up with these ideas."

Jurgen Klopp celebrates winning the FIFA Club World Cup after Liverpool defeated Flamengo in the final at Khalifa International Stadium, Doha on 21/12/2019. _Photo: Reuters_

Klopp reiterated concerns he raised while managing Liverpool, saying players now have less time to rest and a higher risk of injury. "Too many matches," he expressed. "I'm afraid that next season we'll see unprecedented injuries. If not, it will happen during or after the Club World Cup. There is no real recovery time for players, both physically and mentally."

Klopp, who has managed Mainz 05, Dortmund, and Liverpool, is currently the global head of football for Red Bull, which owns several clubs including RB Leipzig and the New York Red Bulls.

When asked about a potential return to management, Klopp responded: "I don't want that anymore. I currently have a job that fulfills me and is also very stressful. I don't sleep in the morning and I don't go to bed later at night, but I can organize my work much better."

Many empty seats were visible in the 75,000-capacity stadium as Chelsea defeated Los Angeles FC 2-0 in their opening Group D match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on 16/6. _Photo: AMA_

Previously, the Club World Cup featured seven teams: the champions of each continental confederation (Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, CONCACAF) and a club from the host nation.

This year, the tournament has expanded to 32 teams: 12 from Europe, 4 from Asia, 4 from Africa, 4 from CONCACAF, 6 from South America, one from Oceania, and one from the host nation, the USA – Inter Miami.

The tournament is taking place from 14/6 to 13/7 in the USA, with a format similar to the 2022 World Cup. The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four, playing each other once to determine the two teams from each group that advance to the round of 16.

The Club World Cup group stage has concluded, with over one million empty seats. Approximately 56.7% of stadium capacity was filled for the 48 group stage matches, including matches that drew 3,412 and 6,730 spectators in Orlando, Florida; and 5,282 and 8,239 spectators in Cincinnati.

The total announced attendance was 1.67 million, while the total capacity was 2.95 million, averaging 34,746 spectators per match. Only 44.9% of the seats were filled for five matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey – the venue for the 2026 World Cup final – and 50% at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, which hosted the 1994 final.

At other 2026 World Cup venues: Miami Gardens, Florida reached 81.8% capacity, Philadelphia 61.6%, Seattle 52%, and Atlanta only 44.3%.

Hong Duy (_via ESPN_)