Reading back through this thread from when it started in 2023, people were divided about the Club World Cup.

Now the dust has settled, and we brought it home, anyone's opinion changed?

Edited November 13, 2025Nov 13 by TokyoBlue

7 minutes ago, TokyoBlue said:

Reading back through this thread from when it started in 2023, people were divided about the Club World Cup.

Now the dust has settled, and we brought it home, anyone's opinion changed?

Nope. I still feel the same way. Like the idea of it, but fitting it into an already packed schedule is impossible without suffering for it. We're suffering right now because of it. Caicedo and Enzo are tired and carrying injuries. Palmer has missed almost the entire first quarter of the season. Colwill is out for the season. We're rotating at a ridiculous level. We're not even half way through the season yet and we're struggling with player fitness.

10 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Nope. I still feel the same way. Like the idea of it, but fitting it into an already packed schedule is impossible without suffering for it. We're suffering right now because of it. Caicedo and Enzo are tired and carrying injuries. Palmer has missed almost the entire first quarter of the season. Colwill is out for the season. We're rotating at a ridiculous level. We're not even half way through the season yet and we're struggling with player fitness.

And the only reason it exists is to fund FIFA through the non-WC years regardless of player welfare. FIFA looked at the fortune UEFA makes every year via the CL and associated comps and said, "Let's be having some of that!".

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

Nope. I still feel the same way. Like the idea of it, but fitting it into an already packed schedule is impossible without suffering for it. We're suffering right now because of it. Caicedo and Enzo are tired and carrying injuries. Palmer has missed almost the entire first quarter of the season. Colwill is out for the season. We're rotating at a ridiculous level. We're not even half way through the season yet and we're struggling with player fitness.

If we are offered a spot as defending champions, should we turn it down?

20 hours ago, TokyoBlue said:

If we are offered a spot as defending champions, should we turn it down?

If they can't sort out the football schedule by then, I don't think it would be wise to accept it from a player welfare point of view. But the club almost certainly would because of the money.

Edited November 14, 2025Nov 14 by Scott Harris

On 13/11/2025 at 11:14, TokyoBlue said:

Reading back through this thread from when it started in 2023, people were divided about the Club World Cup.

Now the dust has settled, and we brought it home, anyone's opinion changed?

I wasn't interested in it at all. The final was unexpectedly fantastic, but ultimately I think we all know we're not really the best team in the world !!

On 13/11/2025 at 11:42, dermott said:

And the only reason it exists is to fund FIFA through the non-WC years regardless of player welfare. FIFA looked at the fortune UEFA makes every year via the CL and associated comps and said, "Let's be having some of that!".

That's true mate. So I was wondering what else FIFA will come up with now the CWC is every 4 years ? Maybe they'll introduce club world cup qualifiers lasting years like the World Cup ?? . Wouldn't put it past them !

FIFA already have something.

They replaced the original annual 7 team Club World Cup with the annual Intercontinental Cup.

Almost same format as the original Club World Cup, but the UEFA Champions League winners only turn up for the final.