Football/Club World Cup: The draw for the new format sparks expectations and concerns
The much-anticipated draw for the expanded Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States with 32 teams instead of the usual 7, will take place on December 5, 2024, in Miami. Announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on November 11, 2024, this event marks a new milestone in the history of international football.
The draw will begin at 1:00 PM local time (6:00 PM GMT) and will determine the eight groups of four teams that will compete in the tournament’s group stage. The expanded tournament will see the 32 teams divided into eight groups, each consisting of four clubs.
At the end of the group stage, the top 16 teams—those finishing in the top two positions of each group—will advance to a knockout phase. This new structure, starting with the round of 16, will not include a third-place playoff, unlike previous editions.
This ambitious project was conceived by Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, who first proposed the idea at the end of 2016. However, the new competition has sparked significant criticism, particularly regarding its potential impact on an already congested international calendar. The increase in international competitions and mandatory matches is putting more and more pressure on players and clubs.
One of the major criticisms has come from the World Leagues Forum and the FIFPro players’ union, who have expressed serious concerns about the extension of the competition calendar at the expense of athletes’ well-being.
In late July 2024, these organizations announced their intention to bring the issue before the European Commission, arguing that the expansion of the calendar is an unacceptable burden on players and places additional strain on clubs.
