Ex-national soccer player Toni Kroos is literally raging at the thought of the new Club World Cup. Players and quality would suffer, he says. It finally has to be less about money.
Long-time national soccer player Toni Kroos is extremely critical of the inflated Club World Cup in view of the burden it places on the professionals of top international clubs. At some point the players are “just broken,” said the 34-year-old in the new episode of the podcast “Einfach mal Luppen” with his brother Felix Kroos. He assumes that both this tournament and the 2026 World Cup will be of poor quality.
The Club World Cup will be held in the USA from June 15 to July 13, 2025 – in a new mode and with 32 teams, including FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The title will certainly be “more difficult to win in the future, but not worth more” than before, said Kroos. People, especially the organizers, wouldn’t want to hear it, but: “In the end you’re playing for a apple and an egg.” The former Real Madrid midfield star announced that he would not be watching the tournament himself.
At some point you “really get fed up”
Given the many competitions that are played and broadcast, at some point you would “get really fed up,” said Kroos. “As everyone, as a player, as a fan.” The current season, in which there are more Champions League games than before, is already “crazy,” said the ex-professional. Then adding another tournament to the calendar would be “irresponsible”. Especially since more serious injuries have recently become more frequent, especially among players who compete in several competitions.
“At some point you have to wake up and think a little bit about the players and a little less about the money,” said Kroos to the major associations FIFA and UEFA. He emphasized that he would have expressed this criticism as an active professional. The 2014 world champion ended his career after the home European Championships in the summer.
Source: Stern
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