FC Bayern Munich’s honorary president Uli Hoeneß has spoken out strongly against the expansion of the 2025 Club World Cup. A legendary figure in German football, he is known for his outspoken views and has not hesitated to express his concerns about what he sees as an increasingly crowded football calendar, which he believes is bringing the sport – and its players – to the brink of collapse.

The 2025 season will see a significant transformation of the Club World Cup. The tournament, which previously featured seven teams, will be expanded to 32 teams; similar to the format of the World Cup. The competition will take place every four years; and the first of these expanded tournaments will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.

The 32 participating teams are divided into eight groups of four; the top two teams from each group advance to the round of 16. The knockout round continues with single-elimination matches until FIFA can crown a champion. For Europe, the allocation includes the last four Champions League winners and eight other teams; all of this is based on their performance in the Champions League over the last four seasons. Other continents have their own qualification criteria, making for a varied but tightly packed tournament.

Concerns about the welfare of players

While the expanded format promises more excitement for fans, it has raised significant concerns about player welfare. The new schedule requires players to play up to seven matches in a month, starting just two weeks after the Champions League final. This tight schedule leaves little room for rest and recovery, increasing the risk of injury and burnout among top players.

Players’ unions, including the international players’ union FIFPRO as well as the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), have voiced their opposition to the new format, arguing that the tournament violates professional contracts that require a minimum three-week break between seasons. These concerns have led to legal action against FIFA, and the matter is expected to be taken to the European Court of Justice.

Hoeneß joins the chorus of critics

Uli Hoeneß is one of the most vocal critics of the tournament expansion. At a sponsorship event hosted by the Ehrmann dairy in Rottach-Egern, he did not mince his words when it came to criticizing the football associations’ plans.

“It cannot go on like this. This accumulation of competitions must be stopped,” explained the 72-year-old. “Sensible people in this business, and that includes many big clubs, think similarly. Real Madrid has the same concerns as us. At some point, enough is enough.” He stressed that the constant addition of new competitions and the expansion of new competitions are not in the interest of the sport.

Hoeneß also pointed out the dangers that such an overloaded schedule poses for the players. “What some officials at UEFA or FIFA are planning is madness. It will not make the sport better, but rather worse. If the players get injured more often and are less willing to perform, interest will eventually wane. If you have a highlight every third day, it is no longer interesting,” he said.

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