Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, has defended the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, labeling it a “fantastic competition” in direct response to recent criticism from former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Last month, Klopp described the new summer tournament as “the worst idea ever implemented in football,” citing serious concerns over player welfare and fixture congestion.
However, Wenger, the former Arsenal manager, asserted that the tournament has been met with widespread approval from those involved.
“Everyone is entitled to an opinion and I don’t share the view of Jurgen Klopp at all,” Wenger said on Friday. “I feel a Club World Cup is needed. If you make enquiries to all the clubs who were here then 100% of answers would be that they would want to do it again. That’s the best answer of what the clubs think of a Club World Cup.”
Addressing concerns over attendance figures for some group stage matches, Wenger added, “The decisive question is do the fans like it or not? We believe the attendances were projected as low and in reality were much higher. The answer is there.”
Wenger also acknowledged that organizers have learned valuable lessons from challenges faced during the tournament in the United States, particularly regarding playing in extreme heat, which will be crucial ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“The heat in some games was a problem but we tried to combat that with cooling breaks, watering the pitches during the break and overall I feel we learned a lot on that front,” he said. Wenger noted that analysis showed heat above 35°C primarily impacted high-speed running and sprints, and that future scheduling and venues with roofs would be considered.
“The pitches were ‘flat’. But once we watered the grass, everyone was happy,” he explained.
The tournament concludes on Sunday when Chelsea face Paris St-Germain in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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