Club World Cup finds its footing amid criticism and challenges

THE first edition of the expanded Club World Cup wrapped up on Sunday night, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino already hailing it as a huge success, while the football world comes to terms with the idea that an imperfect tournament is here to stay.

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Infantino's flagship competition initially set for launch in 2021 before the pandemic intervened was derided by many, particularly in Europe, before a ball had even been kicked.

It was widely seen as an unnecessary addition to an already congested calendar, and doubts lingered over whether it could truly win over the public.

Even after it got underway, former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp dismissed the tournament as the "worst idea ever implemented in football". However, the past month in the US suggests such a viewpoint is likely an exaggeration.

Fifa have faced criticism for the number of empty seats at several matches, but fans did turn out, with around 2.5 million spectators attending games across the country.

South American supporters, in particular, helped create vibrant and colourful atmospheres. The average crowd of almost 39 000 before Sunday's final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea was just below that of last season's English Premier League.