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Bayern Munich powerbroker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has thrown his full support behind FIFA’s dramatic transformation of the Club World Cup, describing the old format as “boring” while praising the upcoming 32-team competition as a welcome challenge for Europe’s elite clubs.
Speaking exclusively to Sport1, the influential supervisory board member didn’t mince words about the previous tournament structure, which virtually guaranteed European champions an easy path to silverware.
“The old format had become a bit boring,” Rummenigge admitted candidly. “You went there as a Champions League winner, and you knew that under normal circumstances you’d have one more trophy on board on the return flight.”
Competition Level Skyrockets
The retooled competition, which debuts next season in the United States, represents what Rummenigge calls a “radical change” in competitive balance:
- 32 teams will participate (up from just 7 in previous editions)
- 12 European powerhouses will compete against each other
- Teams from South and North America will enjoy potential home-continent advantage
- The tournament replaces FIFA’s Confederations Cup
“This is going to be a really difficult tournament,” Rummenigge emphasized. “The quality of the pitch—with twelve top European clubs alone—will be challenging.”
“A Miracle at FIFA”
The 69-year-old Bayern Munich legend expressed genuine surprise at football’s governing body prioritizing club competition over international matches.
“It’s a miracle what happened at FIFA,” Rummenigge stated. “They abandoned a competition called the Confederations Cup in favor of a club competition. That’s never happened before – neither at UEFA nor at FIFA.”
He specifically credited FIFA President Gianni Infantino for championing the change: “We have to thank FIFA President Gianni Infantino for being willing to do that.”
Bayern’s Motivation Key Despite Fatigue Concerns
While acknowledging the tournament arrives after a grueling season, Rummenigge stressed the importance of treating the competition with proper respect.
“I think it’s important to fly there motivated to win this tournament,” he said. “If there’s such a tournament, and especially the first one in the USA, where the World Cup will also be held in 2026, it’s an honor to participate.”
For a club with Bayern’s stature, Rummenigge believes anything less than full commitment would undermine their values.
“When you’re playing in a tournament, you have to approach it seriously and try to win,” he insisted. “Whether you succeed at the end of the day is another question. But as FC Bayern, you have to try.”
The revamped Club World Cup coincides with the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, also being held in the United States, creating what promises to be an unprecedented two-year spotlight on football in America.
With European clubs having won 15 of the last 16 Club World Cup tournaments under the old format, this expanded competition may finally create the global club challenge that football fans have long awaited.
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