Guardiola agrees with Klopp: FIFA Club World Cup may be “the worst idea ever”

After Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola takes another jab at ‘Destructive’ FIFA Club World Cup

They are not the only ones voicing concerns about the tournament.

• 🗣️ Klopp: "This Club World Cup is the WORST idea in the history of football."
• 🗣️ Guardiola: "I agree with Klopp. This could destroy our players and our 2025/26 campaign."
• 🗣️ Maresca: "It's a JOKE. This is not even the right place to host a competition."
• 🗣️ Enrique: "The ball bounces almost as if it were jumping around like a rabbit."
  

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has joined the chorus of criticism regarding the ongoing 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, delivering a pointed critique of the tournament's structure. Ahead of Manchester City’s round of 16 match against Al Hilal, where they navigated the group stage flawlessly, Guardiola has once again raised alarm over the congested fixture calendar.

His remarks follow those of former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, now Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, who condemned the current off-season summer schedule as “the worst idea ever.” Guardiola’s comments resonate with Klopp’s sentiments, as he expressed concerns that the newly expanded 32-team tournament could “destroy” his squad and hinder their prospects in the upcoming season.

Despite having claimed the title four times in the past—most recently with Manchester City in 2023—Guardiola appears far from an enthusiastic supporter of the revamped format. Reflecting on the potential ramifications for his team, he stated, “I try not to think about it, otherwise I will be so anxious. We will rest for as much time as the Premier League allows us to. And game by game, month by month, we will see.”

He added, “Maybe in November, December, January, ask me again. I may say: ‘So listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us.’ I don’t know, but it’s the first time in our lives that this has happened [a 32-team CWC]. So we will see…”

The unpredictable weather in the United States, where the tournament is being hosted, has further fueled criticism. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca lamented, “It’s a joke! It’s not football,” after a major storm delay stretched one of their matches to five hours.

Maresca emphasized that those opposed to the new format “fought a lot” in England and UEFA meetings, similar to the discussions surrounding the revised Champions League layout, but to no avail.

As for Klopp, who ignited this latest wave of criticism, he argues that whoever emerges victorious from the 2025 Club World Cup will be “the worst winner of all time” due to the grueling schedule that will see them play all summer before diving straight back into league action.

In his view, decisions affecting the sport are being made by individuals who have “never been involved” in the pressures of day-to-day professional football and the physical toll of competing in multiple tournaments.

The latest figure to voice criticism is Luis Enrique, who condemned the pitches used in the Club World Cup, likening them to "NBA courts full of holes." After the match between his European Champions, PSG, and the Seattle Sounders, held at Lumen Field—Seattle's home stadium—Enrique expressed his frustration with the quality of the pitch. "I can't imagine an NBA court full of holes," the 55-year-old said. "What truly matters to me is the condition of the playing field, and I say this on a day when we've won. The ball bounces almost as if it were jumping around like a rabbit."

With Manchester City boasting a perfect record this year—most recently trouncing Juventus 5-2—they are strong contenders to win the 2025 CWC again. However, the collective stance of Klopp, Guardiola, Maresca, and others is clear: this tournament risks going down in history for all the wrong reasons, and they will continue to advocate for a reassessment of its format..