Arsene Wenger Says Club World Cup Shows Difference Between Europe & World

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Last Updated:June 28, 2025, 23:30 IST

Arsene Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, feels the Club World Cup shows the biggest gap between European clubs and others is in their final third effectiveness.

FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger (AP)

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, now FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, believes the Club World Cup has highlighted that the biggest gap between European clubs and those from the rest of the world lies in their effectiveness in the final third.

Speaking alongside members of FIFA’s Technical Study Group, which has been analysing matches at the 32-team tournament, Wenger noted that the difference between Europe’s top clubs and teams from South America and other regions is narrower than previously thought.

“Overall, what was a surprise to me, we as Europeans we come here and think, maybe we are a bit too strong for the rest of the world and it was a little bit an experience of humility," he told reporters.

Wenger acknowledged the competitiveness of South American teams and praised South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, who lost narrowly to Borussia Dortmund with a 4-3 scoreline, for their impressive performance.

“They put us in our real place here, especially the Brazilian teams and I must say also teams like Mamelodi Sundowns, when you look at the game against Dortmund, the numbers, you look at the team… even Al Ahly, they are out of the tournament like the Sundowns but the competition is much tighter than expected," said the Frenchman.

However, Wenger pointed out that data and analysis from his group indicated a significant gap in quality within the attacking third.

“Definitely it is the final third," said Wenger. “The timing of the pass, the quality of the pass, the quality of the run, the quality of the execution (of finishing), it all lies there."

Level Of Competition

Juergen Klinsmann, former coach of Germany and the USA and a member of the study group, added that high-level competition experience could help bridge this quality gap.

“Part of that quality comes from experience. When is Pachuca or Monterrey playing in a tournament like this? That is why when I was coach of the USA I said ‘get me into Copa America, get me friendlies in Europe and not here in this region’," said the former World Cup winning striker.

“It has a lot do with the level of competition they usually get in their club environment, because in the box it is in your head, in your mind, because they can play, obviously they are good players," he said.

The last 16, which began on Saturday, features four Brazilian clubs, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, Mexico’s Monterrey, and Inter Miami from the United States, along with nine European clubs. Porto, Atletico Madrid, and Salzburg did not advance past the group stage.

Wenger expressed hope that the tournament would encourage clubs worldwide to raise their standards.

“Our hope is that the teams who did compete go home and say ‘next time, we know what we had to do to be stronger’," he said.

The 75-year-old Wenger is optimistic about the future of the tournament.

“Overall, I would say it went better than I expected it and I am quite optimistic," he said.

“It looks like it is the start of something that will never stop again."

(With inputs from AFP)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...Read More

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