"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I completely disagree with Klopp," Wenger stated at a FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) press conference in New York on 10/7. "I believe a tournament like the Club World Cup is essential. If you ask the clubs participating in this year's Club World Cup, they undoubtedly want the tournament to continue. That's the best answer."

Klopp, 58, currently serves as the global head of football for Red Bull, advising clubs like Salzburg, Leipzig, and New York Red Bulls. Two weeks ago, he told German newspaper Welt that the FIFA Club World Cup is meaningless and the worst idea in football.

Arsene Wenger watches the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and PSG at Emirates Stadium, London, UK on the evening of 29/4/2025. Photo: Reuters

Arsene Wenger watches the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and PSG at Emirates Stadium, London, UK on the evening of 29/4/2025. Photo: Reuters

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's expanded format includes 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 follows a structure similar to the 2022 World Cup. 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four, playing a round-robin format to determine the two teams from each group that advance.

Beyond the sporting aspect, the tournament has sparked controversy regarding weather conditions, playing surfaces, and spectator interest. During the group stage (48 matches), over 1 million seats remained empty, with stadiums filled to only about 56.7% capacity. One match even drew a mere 3,412 spectators.

However, as the tournament progressed, interest increased. Over 2.41 million people attended the 62 matches, averaging nearly 39,000 spectators per match. This average surpasses La Liga, Bundesliga, and Serie A's last season, nearly matching the English Premier League. The semi-final, where PSG defeated Real Madrid 4-0, attracted over 77,000 spectators.

"Attendance at the Club World Cup matches significantly exceeded our expectations," the 75-year-old former coach added. "The answer lies there."

The former Arsenal manager also confirmed that FIFA has learned valuable lessons about organizing the event in the USA, including coping with the heat. "We adapted by allowing players mid-game breaks for hydration and watering the pitch for cooling. We learned a lot," Wenger said.

He also mentioned that FIFA is considering using covered stadiums in cities like Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Houston for early 2026 World Cup matches. FIFA analysts studied the impact of temperature on player performance and found that temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius affect high-speed running more than overall distance covered.

The 2026 World Cup broadcast schedule cannot be altered due to agreements with broadcasters. Many matches must take place in the afternoon in the USA to accommodate European viewers. Therefore, Wenger believes FIFA must find more covered stadiums to mitigate the heat in the USA.

The Club World Cup will conclude with the final between Chelsea and PSG at 2 a.m. Monday 14/7, Hanoi time.

Hoang An (according to CNA)