Soccer-Club World Cup serves as 2026 dry run amid heat and pitch concerns
A record 48 teams will descend on co-hosts United States, Canada and Mexico next year for the quadrennial spectacle, with 104 matches on the schedule, up from just 64 the last time the tournament was held in 2022 in Qatar.
In anticipation, FIFA expanded the Club World Cup this year to more than four times its original size with 32 teams, in a format that mimicked what fans can expect next year.
"It's a dry run for FIFA," said Alan Rothenberg, the former president of U.S. Soccer who was responsible for overseeing the World Cup the last time it was held in the U.S., in 1994.
"There were some mistakes early on and some issues early on but presumably they have now learned their lesson on how to stage a tournament in multiple cities in this vast country of ours. So I think it's going to make it a lot smoother from here on out for '26 because they now have experience."
Organisers faced criticism from players, fans and coaches for a range of issues from pitch conditions to scheduling to heat, with some games played to packed stands and others to sparse crowds baking in temperatures of 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29°C) and higher.
Global players' union FIFPRO said the heat, in particular, should "serve as a wake-up call", with organisers pressured to schedule matches earlier in the day to accommodate the extraordinary scale of the tournament.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez described the temperatures as "very dangerous" to play in.
"Every criticism that we receive is a source for us to study, to analyse, to see what we can do better," FIFA President Gianni Infantino told reporters ahead of the final.
"Of course, the heat is definitely an issue. It's an issue all over the world."
Infantino said that the tournament in 2026 would use stadiums with roofs and climate control to accommodate more of the daytime games. Of the 16 World Cup stadiums, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Vancouver have roofs.
"We need to look at what we can do better. We introduced cooling breaks. It's obviously very important we water the pitch. We can see how we can do things better in America as well as in Canada for next year, in Vancouver," said Infantino.
FIFA is taking greater operational control over the 2026 tournament compared to previous editions, said Rothenberg, who is now chairman of Premier Partnerships, a division of Playfly Sports.
"I don't think they did (Club World Cup) as an experiment but it turns out to be a great experience for FIFA going forward," said Rothenberg, whose forthcoming book "The Big Bounce" explores soccer's popularity in the U.S.
'HISTORIC EVENT'
Global soccer's governing body has put boots on the ground in the U.S. in preparation for the World Cup, setting up field offices in Miami and at New York's Trump Tower.
U.S. President Donald Trump was on hand to deliver the trophy at MetLife Stadium on Sunday to Chelsea, after the Premier League side thrashed Paris St Germain 3-0 in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
From January until the end of next year's tournament, FIFA will maintain a 485,000 square-foot broadcast centre in Dallas.
A smaller version was used in the parking lot at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the Club World Cup.
"This is not a test run - we're going to have a lot of learnings from '25 but this is a historic event for us," Oscar Sanchez, head of host broadcast production, told reporters.
"It's massive - but 2026 is humongous."
MetLife Stadium, which hosted Sunday's final, is set to host the 2026 World Cup's showpiece, with ongoing research to optimise pitch conditions in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Despite efforts, including transporting Bermuda grass overnight in refrigerated trucks, Club World Cup venues received criticism from coaches and players for pitch quality.
"We'll report post this tournament and take lessons forward to 2026," said Blair Christensen, pitch venue manager.
"These guys here that work on the pitch with me they are far sharper and better than they were 35 days ago and we'll take that forward to next year as well."
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, additional reporting by Fernando Kallas, Miguel Lo Bianco and Kurt Hall in New YorkEditing by Toby Davis)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Norway's Hegerberg seeks to inspire as Euros enter knockout phase
NEUCHATEL, Switzerland (Reuters) -The women's game has come a long way since the last time Norway played a knockout game at the Euros, agonisingly losing the 2013 final 1-0 to Germany with a callow, 18-year-old Ada Hegerberg, now team captain, starting up front. At that tournament in Sweden, a combined total of 28,814 spectators saw Norway's group games, a number dwarfed by the 34,063 who saw their 2025 opener, a 2-1 win over hosts Switzerland in which Hegerberg equalised with a bullet header, and the 30-year-old has played a greater role than most in the growth of the game. "You've got to take care of the next generation as well. We're here to inspire, we're here to be open, and that's what we want to do," Hegerberg told Reuters at a training session open to fans near the team's base in Neuchatel where locals had come in their droves to watch. Together with vice-captain Caroline Graham Hansen and former captain Maren Mjelde, Hegerberg came so close to winning in 2013, but German keeper Nadine Angerer saved two penalties to thwart the young stars. "Me and Caro (Graham Hansen), we haven't talked a lot about that game when we were younger, because I don't think we realised then what an opportunity that was. But we talk about it today and we're like, damn it, we were one goal away from winning a Euros," Hegerberg explained. "And I think people tend to forget that, but you know it was an incredible experience. Things have changed a lot since, football has changed a lot, but, yeah, it's starting to become a long, long time ago, and we've experienced a whole deal after that." To say that Hegerberg has experienced a lot since then is something of an understatement; she has won 10 French league titles and six Champions League titles with Olympique Lyonnais and a slew of individual awards including the first women's Ballon d'Or in 2018. She has also spent almost five years in self-imposed exile from the national team in protest at how the Norwegian Football Federation treated women's football. She returned in 2022 and has since taken over the captain's armband from Mjelde, ushering in a new era. "It's a huge responsibility, something that I take very seriously, very inspired to take on that role as well. And you know, Caro is my vice captain, and we've been in the game for a long while," she said. "It's all about transmitting experience calmness when that's needed, power when that's needed, you know, I learn an awful lot, being in that role... I'm myself with them and authenticity is the only way." In contrast to many teams in the modern game, the Norwegians continue to be very open, taking time to sign autographs and take selfies after games and training, and splitting the players into groups to make them available to the media. For Hegerberg, that openness is key to growing the game. "It's our day off after a game but I need to get there (to the fans) as soon as possible as well," she said, looking over her shoulder at the throngs of young admirers waiting for a moment with her. "We're still coming here because it's important people are showing up to see us. We want to give back. I think the whole (Norwegian) federation, with Lisa Klaveness running it, has this vibe that we want to bring as many people into this vibe." Her effect on young female fans is visible around the training pitch in Neuchatel as young girls with their hair fixed in Hegerberg's signature power braid wait for her and, as always with the iconic striker, there is a story behind it that has its roots in attention to detail and her will to win. "I can almost do it blind now," she says of her hairstyle. "It comes from the day when my dad told me that I was touching my hair too much while playing football. "I was around maybe eight and he was like, 'you spend too much energy touching your hair, so you've got to do something about it', and that's where the braid came in." That braid has followed her from her first team in Norway through a Women's Euro final and now again into the knockout stage where Norway meet Italy in Geneva on Wednesday, and where more girls in the stands will mimic her style. "It's fantastic," she said, before taking off the microphone used in the interview and going to greet her fans. (Reporting by Philip O'Connor; editing by Clare Fallon)
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Lions winger Hansen a doubt for series-opener against Australia
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - British & Irish Lions Squad Announcement - O2 Arena, London, Britain - May 8, 2025 The big screen displays the name of Mack Hansen as British & Irish Lions chairman Ieuan Evans announces the squad with head coach Andy Farrell and Maro Itoje Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo MELBOURNE (Reuters) -British & Irish Lions winger Mack Hansen is a doubt for the series-opening test against Australia on Saturday following a foot injury sustained in the tour match against the Australia-New Zealand invitational XV. Hansen did not participate in full training on Tuesday, Lions staff confirmed, a day after Scotland winger Darcy Graham was brought into the Lions squad from New Zealand. "He hurt his foot in the game, I don't think it is anything serious but he was managed today," Lions assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth told British media. "Hopefully he will be fully integrated pretty quickly. It is nothing that we are overly concerned about but we need to make sure we have enough numbers at training. "But it doesn't look too serious. A doubt is anyone who didn't train fully today, but he's definitely not ruled out." Hansen adds to the Lions' backline concerns following injuries to fullback Blair Kinghorn and centre Garry Ringrose. Fullback Elliot Daly left Australia after being ruled out of the series with a fractured arm. Hugo Keenan, who started in the 48-0 thumping of AUNZ at Adelaide Oval, is expected to start at fullback for the Lions, with Marcus Smith able to provide cover from the bench. Flyhalf/centre Owen Farrell is another midfield option for head coach and father Andy Farrell, who already has Bundee Aki, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in his squad. Owen Farrell was solid in his 30-minute cameo at inside centre against AUNZ, and Wigglesworth said he was enjoying working with the former England captain. "He's been great, as we knew he would be. Not everyone did, but we knew," said Wigglesworth. "You all know how good he is, the influence he has, his knowledge and how he helps other people get better. "He's the influential Owen that we know and love." (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Brumbies confirm Edmed switch from Waratahs
MELBOURNE (Reuters) -One-test Wallabies flyhalf Tane Edmed has signed a two-year deal for the ACT Brumbies in a bid to revive his test career after five seasons with the New South Wales Waratahs. The 24-year-old made his test debut against Ireland last November but was overlooked for Joe Schmidt's Australia squad for the British & Irish Lions series, which starts in Brisbane on Saturday. Edmed's move to Stephen Larkham's Brumbies has long been telegraphed in Australian media following Noah Lolesio's decision to leave Canberra for Japan. Dan McKellar's Waratahs missed the Super Rugby playoffs. Edmed is the latest number 10 to ditch the Sydney team following the loss of Ben Donaldson to Western Force and Will Harrison to Japanese rugby. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
