Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has launched a scathing attack on the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, calling it “the worst idea ever implemented in football” and warning of dangerous consequences for player welfare.
Now head of global football at Red Bull, Klopp’s criticism comes just days after one of Red Bull’s teams, RB Salzburg, was eliminated in the group stage of the newly expanded 32-team tournament in the United States.
In an interview with Welt am Sonntag, the 58-year-old German doubled down on long-held concerns over fixture congestion, player fatigue, and the governing bodies’ failure to prioritize recovery time.
“It’s all about the game and not the surrounding events – and that’s why the Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football,” Klopp said.
He went on to accuse football’s decision-makers of being out of touch, saying: “People who have never had or do not have anything to do with the day-to-day business anymore are coming up with something.”
Growing Concerns Over Player Welfare
Klopp’s remarks echo a growing chorus of voices raising concerns about the relentless football calendar. Global players’ union FIFPro recently released a report urging governing bodies to guarantee a four-week off-season for players. Meanwhile, top players such as Manchester City’s Rodri and Manuel Akanji have publicly warned that the current schedule is unsustainable.
Rodri even said in September that players were “close to striking” over the increasingly crowded calendar, while Akanji admitted he might be forced to retire by age 30 due to the lack of rest.
Klopp believes the expanded Club World Cup only exacerbates the issue, especially when added to other major international competitions.
“Last year it was the Copa [America] and the European Championship, this year it’s the Club World Cup, and next year the World Cup,” he said. “That means no real recovery for the players involved – neither physically nor mentally.”
FIFA Defends the Competition
Senior FIFA sources responded to the backlash, telling BBC Sport that player protection is central to the organization’s decisions. They pointed to new initiatives like concussion substitutes, additional in-game subs, and a player welfare fund.
Furthermore, FIFA has argued that the Club World Cup has not significantly added to the fixture congestion. Only two teams, they point out, will play a maximum of seven games, replacing the former Confederations Cup slot in the calendar.
Still, Klopp remains unconvinced.
“We constantly expect players to go into every game as if it were their last. We tell them that 70 or 75 times a year. But it can’t go on like this,” he warned.
“If players don’t get breaks, they won’t be able to deliver top performances. And if they can’t achieve that anymore, the entire product loses value.”
Liverpool, Wirtz & the Market Shift
In the same interview, Klopp commented on his former club Liverpool’s record-breaking £116 million signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. While acknowledging the price was “insane,” he admitted it reflects the evolving transfer market.
“The world keeps changing. If you want to play at the top level, you can’t train all your players yourself. Sometimes you need to get hold of players from somewhere else,” he said.
Though Klopp declined to speculate on where Wirtz would best fit under new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, he praised the 22-year-old’s versatility and talent: “He’s an outstanding player who can give any club something great.”
No Coaching Return
Despite ongoing speculation, Klopp reaffirmed that he has no intention of returning to the dugout — not even temporarily. “My gut feeling tells me: No,” he said.
Now focused on mentoring and strategy at Red Bull, Klopp emphasized he was not brought in to interfere with club coaching decisions. “I’m supposed to pass on my experience and help younger colleagues develop,” he added.
For Klopp, the passion for football remains — but his view on its current direction, especially the Club World Cup, remains sharply critical.
