Arsene Wenger Arsenal FIFA 2025 World Cup
In this file photo taken on March 8, 2018 Arsenal’s coach Arsene Wenger from France looks on during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first-leg football match AC Milan Vs Arsenal at the ‘San Siro Stadium’ in Milan on March 8, 2018. Arsene Wenger will bring his 22-year stay in charge of Arsenal to a close at the end of the season, the Frenchman announced on April 20, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO BERTORELLO

Home » Arsene Wenger defends FIFA’s 2025 Club World Cup format

Arsene Wenger defends FIFA’s 2025 Club World Cup format

Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, defended FIFA’s newly announced Club World Cup format for 2025.

20-12-23 15:28
Arsene Wenger Arsenal FIFA 2025 World Cup
In this file photo taken on March 8, 2018 Arsenal’s coach Arsene Wenger from France looks on during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first-leg football match AC Milan Vs Arsenal at the ‘San Siro Stadium’ in Milan on March 8, 2018. Arsene Wenger will bring his 22-year stay in charge of Arsenal to a close at the end of the season, the Frenchman announced on April 20, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO BERTORELLO

FIFA’s chief of global football development Arsene Wenger defended Tuesday the new Club World Cup format for 2025, which has come in for criticism since its announcement.

The world football governing body announced last Sunday the 2025 edition of its showpiece club event, which will take place over June and July and feature 32 teams from across its six confederations.

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The new format has subsequently been criticised in a statement from the global players’ union FIFPRO due to the increased player workload it would entail and the impact of this on the “mental and physical health”, as well as the “personal and family lives” of players.

ARSENE WENGER DEFENDS NEW FORMAT

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Wenger responded in a FIFA press release: “I accept that the football calendar is a busy one, but this is a competition that is going to take place every four years and of course the rest period during the competition and afterwards has to be respected.

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“The welfare of the players in the last 20 years has increased dramatically as well, when you look at injury prevention, recovery work, nutrition and advances in medical technology. It is unrecognisable from what it used to be.”

The former Arsenal manager justified FIFA’s decision by explaining that “there’s logic behind the thinking from clubs and FIFA to organise a Club World Cup that is similar in format to the nations World Cup”.

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“It’s important that we make football really global and this creates a chance for other clubs to progress, this is the real target. It will give more opportunities to more players all over the world to compete at the highest level.”

© Agence France-Presse