By Max Tijero, Year 12
This June, we are witnessing the first ever edition of the new Club World Cup format. Taking place in the United States, this tournament has sparked a lot of controversy. Some say that FIFA is just doing this to earn more money and has no consideration of the players’ physical and mental health. Others say that teams aren’t taking this tournament seriously and that the quality of the football played is too low. Nonetheless, some are enjoying the tournament.
The teams in this tournament come from every continent. WIth 12 European teams, 6 South American teams, 5 North American teams, 4 Asian teams, 4 African teams and 1 from Oceania. This setup allows for matches between teams that don’t normally face eachother, showcasing a diverse range of playing styles and strategies.
In this tournament, South American teams have proven to be tougher than anyone expected them to be. The only loss by a South American team was Boca Juniors losing by a tight 2-1 against Bayern Munich. However, we’ve seen these South American teams beating some European giants. Botafogo beat the European champions 1-0, and Flamengo beat Chelsea by a devastating 3-1. There are many reasons why these CONMEBOL teams are giving the UEFA teams a tough time. Their defensive abilities are much better, and paired with their flair and talent up top, they are dealing a lot of damage. We saw this during Botafogo’s win against PSG. Defensive solidity throughout the entire match, but Igor Jesus’ talent determination and strength turned out to be fatal. Miguel Merentiel’s goal against Bayern Munich was also a perfect example of this. He got the ball in Bayern’s half, dribbled past 2 defenders and slotted the ball in the back of the net.
This tournament allows teams from all over the world to prove themselves in front of the European teams. With everyone watching, it is clear that this gives them the opportunity to show the world what they are made of. For example, it is very probable the Igor Jesus will move to Europe this summer, or that Estevao will go to Chelsea with a much better reputation.
However, it is true that with the Euros and the Copa America last year, the Club World Cup this year, and the World Cup next year, the players are getting little to no rest. This impacts their mental and their physical health. We’ve seen many more injuries lately. In addition, the conditions for this Club World Cup are not the greatest. The pitches aren’t good enough, the heat causes the game to be slower and it is much harder for the players to display their best game.
Overall, for the bigger teams that have many more games throughout the year, especially in UEFA, this tournament represents more matches, higher chances of injury and no vacation. However, the Club World Cup is a tournament that largely benefits teams that aren’t from UEFA or that don’t get as much recognition as other clubs. It allows them to display their talent in front of the whole world.
