“The FIFA Club World Cup™ can contribute to making clubs stronger,” says FIFA Chief of Global Football Development in visit to Egypt
Inaugural FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ will see 32 of the best club teams compete for the iconic new trophy in the United States between 14 June and 13 July
Mr Wenger believes tournament’s inclusive format, which means all six confederations are represented “gives everyone the opportunity” to become a world champion
FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger has said the new FIFA Club World Cup™ will help FIFA move closer to the goal of making football truly global as it provides “an opportunity for clubs to become stronger”.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ will see 32 of the best teams on the planet converge on the United States between 14 June and 13 July this year to contest the right to be called the first true club world champions.
With millions of fans expected to attend games and billions around the globe following the tournament, it will mark the first time club football has united the world with the qualified clubs representing all six confederations.
“We want to develop club football everywhere in the world and the FIFA Club World Cup is an opportunity for clubs to become stronger,” said Mr Wenger at an event at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in the African country’s capital, Cairo.
“At the moment the strongest clubs are in Europe and everyone knows that. We want strong football clubs everywhere in the world because that’s part of our programme, to make football big everywhere, and the Club World Cup can contribute to making clubs stronger.”
Clubs qualify for the tournament either by winning their confederation’s premier club competition or via the ranking pathway, which is determined by a club’s performances in their leading continental competition over the four-year qualifying period.
It means each confederation’s champions will be represented, affording clubs a unique opportunity to measure themselves against top opponents from other regions and continents. It also opens the door to some of the game’s stand-out individual performers, whose national side have only a slim chance of lifting the FIFA World Cup™, getting their hands on a global trophy.