Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has pushed back at Jürgen Klopp’s recent criticism of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, backing the 32-team tournament as necessary for the global game, Softfootball reports.
As reported by the Athletic, Wenger, now FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, addressed the topic during a media session in Manhattan ahead of Sunday’s final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Frenchman leads the tournament’s Technical Study Group, a panel made up of ex-players and coaches, including Jürgen Klinsmann and Tobin Heath, tasked with analysing tactical and physical trends across the competition.
Jurgen Klopp, now Head of Global Football at Red Bull, had previously branded the expanded Club World Cup the worst idea ever implemented in football, citing its impact on the already congested calendar and the strain on player development.
Wenger, however, dismissed those views.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don’t share Jürgen Klopp’s view,”
Wenger said.
“I feel the Club World Cup is needed. If you ask the clubs who participated, 100 percent of them would say they want to do it again. That’s your answer.”
“The real question is, do the fans like it? Expectations for attendance were low, but we’ve seen much higher turnout than projected. The answer is in the numbers.”
Wenger also addressed concerns about pitch quality in U.S. venues, with mixed feedback from players and coaches, particularly around MetLife Stadium and sites in Orlando. He said the quality of natural grass in the U.S. requires more maintenance but is ultimately “flat” and playable once watered.
On extreme heat, another hot topic this summer, Wenger confirmed that FIFA implemented cooling breaks and adjusted conditions where possible. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, he acknowledged that scheduling and stadium selection would be adjusted with heat in mind saying:
“The weather was a challenge, but we’ve learnt from it,”
“Our data showed that temperatures above 35°C didn’t reduce overall distance covered but did impact high-speed running. That will help shape our planning.”
Wenger concluded by reiterating that the Club World Cup would remain a quadrennial event, with the next edition scheduled for 2029, not every two years, as previously speculated. He also praised the level of technical quality on display, particularly highlighting PSG’s progress to the final.
Softfootball had earlier reported how PSG demolished Real Madrid to reach the final of the Club World Cup against Chelsea. PSG doubled Chelsea’s scoreline to record an emphatic 4-0 win over Real Madrid, thanks to a brace from Fabian Ruiz, a strike from Ousmane Dembele and a late goal by Goncalo Ramos.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos has been complimentary of Chelsea ahead of their clash in the final of the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup in New Jersey on Sunday in a game that offers more than a trophy.
The Blues booked their spot in the showpiece event which will see £30m awarded to the winners after defeating Fluminense on Tuesday, with both goals coming from Joao Pedro on his full debut.
