Jürgen Klopp Harshly Criticizes New Club World Cup Format

Jürgen Klopp, former Liverpool manager now serving as Red Bull’s head of global soccer, expressed sharp criticism of the new Club World Cup format in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt.

The planned tournament format — involving 32 teams and held every four years during preseason — is considered by Klopp as the worst idea in football history.

“It’s a pointless competition. Whoever wins it will be the worst winner of all time because they’ll have played all summer and then gone straight back into the league,” Klopp stated.

The former Liverpool boss highlighted the issue of overcrowded schedules — potentially triggering serious injuries in players next season. He argues that players lack adequate recovery time, both physically and mentally.

When asked about potentially returning to coaching, Klopp emphasized his satisfaction with his current role at Red Bull — a position that allows him to better organize his work while remaining intense.