Good day everyone,

I hope you are all having a good day, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things sports. In this post I will be looking at the recently unveiled FIFA Club World Cup trophy and why it once again displays the arrogance and ignorance of FIFA regarding players.

FIFA Club World Cup Trophy

It was an unexpected twist when the governing body of soccer, FIFA, displayed their new Club World Cup trophy to the world. As it is many are opposed to this new format of the tournament, which will see 32 clubs from around the globe participate in a tournament which nobody asked for. It will take place in the United States in the summer of 2025, a year before the FIFA World Cup.

What made the trophy unveiling so unusual was that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has had his name engraved not once, but twice on the new Club World Cup trophy. This decision has come about as Infantino somehow believes his name will help to stir excitement for the revamped tournament. The trophy was designed and crafted by the renowned luxury jewellers Tiffany & Co and features a unique circular design with multiple spinning layers.

How anybody thinks it is a trophy players would wish to hoist above their head after winning is really anyone's guess, but the sheer level of arrogance by the president of FIFA has really caused a stir among the football community. The final of the competition is due to take place at MetLife Stadium in New York on July 13 next year.

The trophy has a number of engravings, with the most unusual being the first inscription which proclaims Infantino as the competition's 'founding president.' Talk about needing an ego boost if the president of FIFA believes his own name should be engraved on the trophy. I cannot recall any other trophy with a founding presidents name on it. The trophy also includes his signature, which quite frankly is not required. The second phrase on the trophy declares:

'We are witness to a new age. The golden era of club football: the era of the FIFA Club World Cup. The pinnacle of all club competitions. Inspired by the FIFA president Gianni Infantino.'

As previously noted there has already been plenty of controversy and scepticism regarding the competition. The original format saw a single team from each continent along with a host nation club battle it out for the old trophy. Many in Europe often regarded the competition as an inconvenience to their calendar year and this new format is causing even more dismay among many in the game.

The competition is set to host 32 teams from across the globe. The qualified teams are as follows:

• Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League

• Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League

• ES Tunis (TUN) - CAF ranking pathway

• Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) - CAF ranking pathway

• Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League

• Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League

• Al Ain (UAE) - 2023/24 AFC Champions League

• Ulsan HD FC (KOR) - AFC ranking pathway

• Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League

• Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League

• Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League

• Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway

• Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway

• Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway

• Porto (POR) - UEFA ranking pathway

• Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway

• Borussia Dortmund (GER) - UEFA ranking pathway

• Juventus (ITA) - UEFA ranking pathway

• Atletico Madrid (ESP) - UEFA ranking pathway

• FC Salzburg (AUT) - UEFA ranking pathway

• Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup

• Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup

• Club Leon (MEX) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup

• Pachuca (MEX) - 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup

• Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway

• Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores

• Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores

• Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores

• River Plate (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway

• Boca Juniors (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway

• Inter Miami (USA) - Host nation slot

The final place will be decided by the 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores winners, with Atletico Mineiro facing Botafogo in the final in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Saturday 30 November 2024.

Infantino expressed his vision for the competition in a statement along with the unveiling:

'The trophy had to be innovative, inclusive, ground-breaking and truly global, as this competition is. The FIFA Club World Cup trophy — a remarkable equivalent to our iconic FIFA World Cup — is a revolutionary symbol of a bright, new future for club football, inspired by the most.'

It still leaves one wondering why the need for his own name, his own personal image, and his own interest in the competition to be put on the trophy. I personally think the competition will be a flop and it is nothing more than a desperate attempt by FIFA to further run players into the ground with unnecessary games. Only time will tell but excitement is low, player welfare concerns are high, and all in all it just seems like another desperate money making attempt by those in charge of the game.

For reference, below is the old trophy used for the seven team format.

Have a great day.

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

Referral Links and Follow Me:

Linktree