Klopp Blasts Expanded Club World Cup: A "Pointless" Tournament Threatening Player Health

Jürgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, has strongly criticized the newly expanded Club World Cup, labeling it the "worst idea ever" conceived in football.

In a recent interview with German newspaper Die Welt, Klopp voiced concerns that the tournament would further burden players who already face a demanding schedule.

The revamped Club World Cup will feature 32 teams competing every four years during the preseason, specifically in the summers between major international competitions.

"It's a pointless competition," Klopp stated. "Whoever wins it will be the worst winner of all time because they'll have played all summer and then gone straight back into the league."

He added, "There are people who have never been involved in the day-to-day business of football and are now coming up with ideas."

Klopp emphasized the decreasing rest periods for players, cautioning that adding another tournament could pose a significant risk to their health.

"It's too many games," he warned. "I fear that next season we will see injuries like never before. If not then, they'll come during or after the Club World Cup."

"There's no real recovery for those involved, neither physically nor mentally," Klopp added.

After a successful nine-year tenure with Liverpool, which concluded in 2024, Klopp now serves as the head of global soccer for Red Bull, the parent company of clubs such as RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls.

When asked about the possibility of returning to coaching, Klopp responded:

"I don't want that anymore. I have a job now that fulfils me and is also intense. I don't sleep in the morning and I don't go to bed later at night, but I can organise my work much better," he clarified.