Try GOLD - Free
Club World Cup risks becoming Uefa Champions League 2.0
The Star
|July 01, 2025
THE Fifa Club World Cup has only served to underline the growing European monopoly in international competitions, with as many as seven Uefa teams potentially reaching the quarter-finals.
World football's governing body had promoted the expanded tournament as a model of inclusivity. Yet, it has only reinforced club football's entrenched power dynamics, as Europe's elite prepare to dominate once again.
Uefa boasts 12 of the 32 competing teams, with the latter stages already resembling the Uefa Champions League knockout rounds. It feels like the deck is loaded in Europe's favour — and Fifa appears unconcerned as long as the revenue keeps flowing.
But this continued dominance by European clubs undermines the competitive spirit of the tournament and threatens long-term credibility. Many critics fear that, unless reformed, the Club World Cup could become an irrelevant extension of existing European competitions.
Concerns over player welfare have also cast a shadow over the event.
The timing of the tournament, during what is typically a rest period for most players, raises the risk of burnout. This has drawn criticism from clubs and players' unions alike.
This story is from the July 01, 2025 edition of The Star.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Star
The Star
Chile picks new presidential candidate
CHILEANS were to elect a new president yesterday, facing a stark choice between the most right-wing candidate in 35 years of democracy and the head of a broad leftist coalition.
2 mins
December 15, 2025
The Star
Newly unveiled: The hidden photos linking Trump to Epstein's secretive world
THE late sex trafficker is seen mingling with a parade of powerful men, including President Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Steve Bannon, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, and half of America' billionaire class, according to 19 recently released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that were made public by US House Oversight Committee Democrats.
2 mins
December 15, 2025
The Star
Pirates are back in command
ORLANDO Pirates etched their name deeper into the annals of South African football history by clinching the Carling Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Carling All-Stars at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
1 mins
December 15, 2025
The Star
Transformative upgrades coming to Johannesburg High Court Precinct
FOR years, the high court precinct in Johannesburg has undergone substantial deterioration, which is indicative of the wider deterioration of the city’s inner-city infrastructure.
1 mins
December 15, 2025
The Star
Decision to classify Phala Phala report was 'abuse of power'
Experts believe it is to shield Ramaphosa from being held accountable
3 mins
December 15, 2025
The Star
Salungano Group returns to profitability as Moabsvelden Mine boosts performance
SALUNGANO Group, the JSE-listed coal mining company significantly improved its solvency by the end of the six months to September 30 when headline earnings reached 21.56 cents a share compared with the 90 cents a share loss at the same time a year before.
2 mins
December 15, 2025
The Star
SACP slams Ramaphosa's comments on dual membership
EXPRESSED CONCERN
2 mins
December 15, 2025
The Star
South Africa's liberation movement: The tickey and the future
THERE is a tragic image that haunts the modern state of our liberation movement.
4 mins
December 15, 2025
The Star
Honest talks spark Sharks’ gritty Champions Cup revival
SHARKS captain Andre Esterhuizen says “honest conversations” among the players last week laid the foundation for the Sharks’ gritty victory over Saracens in a Champions Cup match at Kings Park.
3 mins
December 15, 2025
The Star
Salga demands immediate release of withheld municipal funds
The association is engaging Treasury over process used to withhold LGES tranche from 75 municipalities
3 mins
December 15, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size