Jurgen Klopp, former Liverpool manager, brands ‘FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is the worst idea ever’; here’s why

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has branded the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as the ‘worst ever idea’ adding to the workload on the elite footballers. The FIFA Club World Cup, which used to be a seven-team tournament, has been revamped with a 32-team format from the ongoing edition. With the group stages done and dusted, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 gears up for the knockouts. 

Klopp was the Liverpool manager when the Premier League giants won the tournament back in 2019. It was Liverpool’s first-ever FIFA Club World Cup title. However, Liverpool aren’t competing in the current edition due to complicated selection process with Manchester City and Chelsea representing the United Kingdom in the tournament.  

Klopp stressed on the ‘serious fear’ over the lack of rest for the players at elite level. “The Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football in this regard,” Klopp told German outlet Welt. 

“People who have never had anything to do with day-to-day business are coming up with ideas. I understand those who say: But there are insane sums of money for participation. But that’s not for every club. 

Last year it was the Copa and the Euro, this year the Club World Cup, and next year the World Cup. That means no real recovery for the players involved, neither physically nor mentally. Of course, they all earn a lot of money. But let’s leave that aside for a moment,” he added.