This is a MONEY GRAB! Craig Burley reacts to ‘bogus’ Club World Cup in 2025 | ESPN FC 

Maybe this will finally get the event the hype it needs. But Craig is absolutely right, it’s nothing more than a cash grab and is still dwarfed by the Champions League.

seems like after covid, the players haven't got much rest between games/competitions/seasons

I really hate this recent trend of FAs creating new competitions just for the sake of generating more money. Even if its just elite level players effected by this, they are still human too. If they are really going to push for this, then they better start allowing bigger squads and more substitutions for matches.

season just ended and preseason is already about to start, crazy how little rest players get

The pundits are all so Eurocentric. Only the Europeans are complaining. As an Asian American I love this idea of an expanded Club World Cup to bring geographic diversity to a top level club competition. About player fatigue: how about reducing the number domestic top division teams and games? No one other than hometown fans cares about another domestic mid-table battles

Does this mean that the Club World Cup will only be every 4 years? If that’s the case then it’s less of a terrible idea but if it’s every year, then it’s ridiculous

Probably unnecessary injuries and even boring games with not fully fit players who already have many games to play in a season

Classic negative European perspective, but this is great for the other 20 teams from other confederations

Fixture congestion is the major problem. League games, League Cups games, Sponsored Cup games, Conference Competitions (Champions league etc), International breaks etc it's too much. I don't mind club world cup, but there are too many other minor cup competitions during the season. All leagues should be limited to League Games, FA Cup and European competition. Not no effing Carabao bs

Isn't this tournament every 4 years? Why are you guys so mad about it??

The best thing about the tournament is that it’s every 4 years instead of every year.

From someone who only wants to cover UEFA Champions league of course it's how he sees it. If you're a fan of any league outside of UEFA, you love this idea.

It's always been a dream of mine to see a tournament like this come to fruition. I remember I used to set up 32 club world cups when I used to play Fifa 09 lol. But I agree, fixture congestion & the risk of injuries for elite level players is too great & ultimately not worth it for European clubs 😔

These guys are just upset that another club tournament might become more prestigious than the Champions League. The World is NOT Europe. I love this idea.

I think it’s good for upgrading other continents clubs

Fifa should make Craig as the special guest for the inaugural Club World Cup in 2025 😅😅

I like it there is other clubs outside of Europe that deserves to play in the highest level

Why is he always moaning?

I wanna see big European teams play big Brazilian teams.

I am excited for this, Going to see Nashville SC Vs Fenerbache 😂😂😂

I'm I the only one who likes the idea? I would to watch this tournament and can't wait for it. Elite teams going against the rest of the world ....... Sounds perfect for me

I like this tournament and always wanted this and I am very happy that it is announced and the best clubs in the world can play each other. But it should be close to pre-season and players should get more than a month of rest. And it's every 4 years which I like and would decide the best club in the world.

More competitions, more tourneys, okay then, more players. Increase squad size and then the top players can take these competitions off and let the other players get some run.

They already have champions League, Europa league, conference league, Euro qualifiers, Euros, Copa America, nations league, world cup qualifiers, world cup. Along with long league seasons. Peak performance will dip. Injuries will increase. The clubs with huge squads will win. It also kills the novelty. Careers will shorten.

I got an ad at 1:06 right when Craig said, “no,” and genuinely thought the video ended

This event needs a better draw... so much potential to make it a huge tourney to replace the confederations cup!!

I like this tournament. More matches to watch

Can Craig just shut up now each team have at least 22players who some barely get playing time but sit on the bench and gets pay so basically the clubs more than have enough players to compete … simple maths

Why even do this? Keep current format in both ucl and club world cup! The world cup is nice to have a round of 32 in it though, as its the best tournament

Just send the best players on holiday and let the bench and under 21 players play that tournament

The 7 team club world cup was a joke. This tournament could be great if people collectively decided to care about it. It will be an upward battle trying to get European clubs to care about it, though. They have always looked down on other confederations, even CONMEBOL. They have no reason to take it seriously because if they win it'll be expected and if they lose it'll be embarrassing.

I totally agree with Craig, when do players get rest after long league cups & then champions league which is the biggest club competition in the world, then we have Copa America in 2024 + UEFA Euro 2024 in June & July next year & then league tournament starts again, Craig is absolutely spot on FIFA is just cash grab.

For Example Liga MX just finished less than a month ago and The Season it's about to start next week. Craig is spot on players aren't getting a rest or Vacation.

Clubs should send their youth teams

There will always be change. Everything's a money grab. Depth and rotations and managing injuries will be an even bigger factor. There will always be change.

Just send the youth teams and coaches.

Absolutely ridiculous. Enough is enough. Give these guys an off season.

Maybe the big clubs can let the academy/bench players mixed with the starters play in these competition.

I'm tired of all the crying from the Europeans about this. I guarantee every other confederation's clubs a drooling at the chance to go at Europe's elite clubs and maybe, just maybe knock them off and become world champions. This is literally a case of Europe (and fans who only care about European clubs) hating this while the rest of the world can't wait. I can't wait myself. Gonna be awesome. :D

PREACH CRAIG! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! They have no care or concern about players health. They just care about money. They just changed the best competition in futbol/soccer I'm champions league for more money.

The players don’t mind the money 💰so FIFA and leagues they have to generate money to! Ask elite players to give 40% of their salaries to have less tournaments see their feedback 😮

I adisagree thgis is gonna be huge and massive and clubs will treat it as if it was their champions league tournament.

The Seattle Sounders will be world champions in 2025 after they beat Club America, the tough Man City B Team, and the big brutal and savage Real Madrid Academy squad 😊

I really hope the clubs involved just play their C teams.

In the NBA you got athletes barely playing. In works futbol you got players OVER worked. No other sport runs this much wear and tear mileage

Craig, did you call it a money grad up until.

These commentators are exactly what one of them suggested, dinosaurs. You have no clue... This will be huge.

Bring it on. International football is now second rate. Club world cups are the future.

I love the idea of a Club World Cup. Makes way more sense than a Nationality World Cup

This will be the greatest club competition in the world. Trust.

I like the idea of the Cup. I used to do this all the time on FIFA, and PES. The timing of it is gonna throw everything else off.

I guess if it can replace pre season games, then that works. But yeah, managers won't play their star players with 100% commitment.

When do the players' unions speak up and complain about this? Enough already. Give the players a rest.

They really need to eliminate the League cup in England.

I mean not a bad idea for the other 5 continents

Lol looks like football players are the new slaves. It's like a different kind of colosseum where the show must go on.

There are important teams and fans outside of Europe who will appreciate this comp. But then these ESPN dinosaurs don't care about anything except the English league and English everything.

LOL they do sound like dinosaurs now don't they

If they made it end of July as a single knockout tournament, that wouldn’t be as bad as a preseason tournament but June-July is awful. And it serves those clubs as a huge disadvantage for those other clubs Participating in it compared to those who won’t

All Soccer federations including FIFA have no integrity for the sport. This honestly could go for all sports. It's about the money that can be made.

One of the reasons why American football here in the US is loved is because there is a long enough Gap between the super bowl ending and the season starting (5 months or so). This builds anticipation for what the new season is going to bring and how teams have planned their squads. I'm not saying football should have this long of a gap, but like Craig said, their has to big a time frame where NO football is occurring (int competitions/friendless, mini club tournaments/exhibitions held in other countries). Not only do players get burnt out, but I'd say most fans also want to take a break from the sport for a few months.

So true to much for the players

The are African teams that want to play against the best in the world.Great opportunity for them.

The solution is very simple, play your fringe and academy players in this tournament. It actually could be an opportunity for growth for those players that usually don't get the opportunities. Stevie is spot on.

suddenly Uefa champions league isn't the best thing anymore - fear

United States were so busy when it comes to football before the real World Cup: 1.2024: Copa America (10 Conmebol + 6 Concacaf teams, 4 groups of 4 with 32 games). 2.2025: Club World Cup (8 groups of 4 with 64 games just like the old format of real World Cup). 3.2026: World Cup with Canada and Mexico (12 groups of 4 with 104 games). It's literally a sportswashing.

tournament sounds great to me. elite players earn fortunes of money and get a life of a luxury. I think they will be fine.

I can't wait. Makes soccer more relevant in the states.

I agree. It's a bit like eating your favorite food every day, you get tired of it..

Us fans love the gold badge on our jersey

“This will never be taken seriously” A comment that will not age well, the potential is immense.

I fully agree. The irony is that FIFA and UEFA are pushing for financial fair play while simultaneously putting the clubs in the conditions that they need to invest and spend more money.

It’s a way for the best professional club teams from the world to be able to play each other… because the highest level of competition outside of the Premier League is the Champions League but only teams from Europe get to play in the European champions league so… this could be a way for Messi’s Miami MLS team to compete against a top club from Europe outside of a “Friendly” match… This league gives the clubs from smaller leagues a platform to play… At the very least it will attract more talent to the MLS and Mexico league teams because it offers them a way to play on a big stage for the world… the South American teams could and should be in it too... it can be Hemisphere group stages so teams can play into the tournament then the western hemisphere winner vs the eastern hemisphere winner or however they wanna figure it out... And forshure FIFA is figuring out how to make EVEN MORE MONEY from football/soccer... Craig is right it's a flat out cash grab but it brings exposure of the game to the western hemisphere... in the end their will be more fans of the eastern hemisphere clubs like me over here after because it will raise awareness of the sport.

Being overworked is such a lousy excuse. I get 1 guaranteed day off all year and thats Christmas, and I get paid pennies compared to these hooligans!

The rest of humanity does not get more than three of four weeks off. What kind of argument is this? They are soccer players, not astronauts. Also, there’s a thing called squad management, successful teams don’t play the same 11 three times a week every week. This competition has the potential to be a great global event, globalizing soccer further, bringing the world together.

It's not just physically either, it's mentally. People need a decent break. You can't have these players on all year round and expect them to perform up to a true elite level.

Why can’t they make it unique and original, like blitz chess, they can play one half games, 30 minute matches but multiple in a day in one stadium (man u vs real then Barca va man city etc for one day, then the winners play each other the next day for 45 minute match etc until a final 90 minute winner takes all match, one week and it’s done and most players actually get rest and tactics will be so different for the managers

This may start as a pre-season for major leagues.... but not the lower leagues... but if this competition survives the first decade, expect this competition the next hotness.

As an avid football fan ive never watched a single club world cup game, and probably never will🤷🏻‍♂️

And fans wonder why some players just can't stay fit

I doubt it will actually happen, certainly don't think there'll be a second. Players and managers, certainly in Europe will go on strike. I could see clubs like City, Chelsea, Utd and Liverpool sending youth team and coaches, while first team squad and coaches go on holiday.

I am with you Craig! These players are not machines. It's time for one to drop dead on the field before they hear our cry. This is pure madness. But why are the players not crying?

I dread the knock on effect this could have because you either get lower quality games and more injuries/fatigue to great players but it could also cause the big clubs to spend even more beefing up their squads by plucking smaller clubs to have a deep enough squad to compete in every tournament which further consolidates their power. At the very least, don't make it a 32 team tournament so to limit the number of teams and players that have to play

The hypocrisy and irony of an ESPN FC pundit calling out FIFA's money grab, when despite football being on holidays ESPN find a way to keep pumping out endless shows repeatedly discussing the same transfer topics - Kane, Mbappe etc. Pot calling the kettle black!

Nice little competition for the fans in the US, but I really don’t see the top teams bringing all of their stars, especially those teams that go far in ucl and league (Madrid, City). I only see the other teams bringing in their top players

I would still watch this without European clubs... great to have them, but dont need them.

Spot on Craig - how many more comps does the world need? Every country has its league competition to worry about, plus its cup competition and continental competition. Throw in international duty as well, and it's a full calendar. At best, this Club World Cup will likely be bench players and those out of form.

In the description of the video, it says the FIFA Club World Cup will be in 2205, 😂

Craig speaks as if players will not be paid! It will take one humiliation drabbing from an obscure team from Africa or Asia for the European teams to take the tournament serious. As long as these tournament will help put some real money in player's pockets, I am all in! I am sold! Europe is the holly-grail for footballers, but what about those that cannot reach Europe? They need this tournament to at least make some much needed cash.

Yeah this goin be interesting because the lack of rest and every league not on the same schedule MLS is played from spring until the end of fall

It is wild. The 2024 euros/copa America end mid July. Euro club season starts roughly 2nd/3rd weekend of august. Season runs until mid May. Champs League final 2025 Memorial Day weekend or first weekend In June, rush into this sham of a competition then get ready for World Cup In 2026 and they’ll fit in a bunch of meaningless international friendlies as well

What if the big clubs refuse to play?

Typical Eurocentric views. The world is more than just Europe. This is a great tournament for the World game.

Greed is what drives most institutions like Fifa. Players are considered machines to be drained for maximum output..

2025-26 league seasons would begin in early August because of the World Cup 2026 would begin in early June. There would be close to zero rest of players for those respected clubs. I still hope there is a chance this tournament doesn't happen.

I was just fine with the intercontinental cup: Copa Libertadores winner vs Champion's league winner!

I can only imagine European clubs boycotting this tournament and that would remove 90% of the top clubs around the world. That or they will play reserve squads and who could blame them. Manchester City played 60! matches this season alone.

It’s easy. The clubs can easily play the u-23 throughout so the senior squad can rest

For someone who complains so much about modern players whining, he’s doing a pretty good imitation

There are 32 teams if they're doing the Club World Cup in the USA and they'll do the World Cup format with this. Doesn't this create more and more games for the players because they already have to play the league season, they play for their countries on international break, there are champions league games and the whole group stage format will look different, they might have to remove domestic cups but they won't do that. How is this going to work because the European teams that feature in the Club World Cup are the ones who feature because they won the champions league and I like it with other countries featuring in it and the team that wins champions league.