Infantino hails 'golden age of club football', dismisses critics

Fifa president Gianni Infantino triumphantly declared the Club World Cup to be "the most successful club competition in the world" on July 12, ahead of the July 13 final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, which took place after press time.

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NEW YORK - Fifa president Gianni Infantino triumphantly declared the Club World Cup to be "the most successful club competition in the world" on July 12, ahead of the July 13 final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, which took place after press time.

The first 32-team edition of the tournament faced criticism in its build-up for stretching demands on elite players and has been played out in baking temperatures in the United States, raising concerns for the health of those involved.

There were also doubts about the level of interest the competition would generate among fans, but Infantino said he was satisfied with the attendances at matches - despite many games being far from sold out - and claimed it had been a major success financially.