John Terry insists players do want to play the Club World Cup

The 2025 Club World Cup is set to take place in the United States, and from this year's edition onwards FIFA have launched a new format, which will involve a 32-team competition wiith more fixtures. Manchester City and Chelsea will be taking part in it among other clubs from around all over the globe.

The tournament will kick off in June once the league and continental competitions have terminated, though players have voiced their criticism, as it the new format adds fixtures to an already-congested calender. City midfielder Rodri, for example, has affirmed that strike action may need to be taken as a result.

Nevertheless, Chelsea legend John Terry insists that the biggest stars in football do want to take part in the Club World Cup, claiming that it is a prestigious tournament and, for many, a career highlight. 

In an interview with FIFA, the former defender said: “I’ve been asked this a couple of times. As a player, [it’s] like: ‘Do you really care about the [FIFA Club World Cup]?’ Absolutely you do. So, 100% as a football club, we’re going to be prepared to go there and be looking to win it. And, obviously, there’s some really top sides there as well, but from a player’s perspective, it’s been thrown, kind of my generation and the generation after me, that it doesn’t really matter".

Terry also mentions the importance of the Club World Cup to the fans. “It does, 100% this matters. So, as a football club, we’re excited and delighted to be there, and we’re going to come and bring our best players, our best squad, and give it our best opportunity, because I think that’s what the fans want to see," he said, further underling the competition as a rare opportunity for footballer. “You get one chance at these big competitions, two if you’re lucky, maybe three or four, if you’re [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Lionel] Messi you get to do it a lot of times. But, I think for the normal player, these don’t come about very often, and I think it’s important to take these opportunities," he explained.

The opportunity to add trophies to the club's cabinet is never a waste of time for the ex-Blue icon, as he said: “So, when these opportunities are here -- This is what I’m saying, from a Chelsea perspective, it’s an opportunity to win a trophy and test yourself against the best. I think for where Chelsea are at the moment as well, it’s really a bit of good news that we would like, it’s an opportunity to win another trophy".

Terry also urges people to look at the Club World Cup from a different perspective, that of players taking part in the tournament from other, smaller, leagues who are able to use it to show themselves to the world. "So, from our perspective, you know, I see teams from the South American countries playing really exciting football, with some real, real talent. So, also, it’s a shop window for those guys as well, to put themselves in the window for the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, and many other teams playing in the Premier League and the high-level leagues across the world. So, these guys are here to showcase themselves as well, which makes it even more exciting as well".

 

September 18, 2024