Club World Cup risks becoming Uefa Champions League 2.0

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.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

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.