Courtois & Belgium: World Cup Rehearsal Reveals Key Issue

Too hot, too few fans, bad viewing figures. After three weeks of the renewed World Cup for clubs, the reception is currently lukewarm.

Criticasters dismissed the mega tournament as an egotrip by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, who was able to lure top clubs from all over the world to the US with a large bag of money.

“The existence of this tournament is indeed money,” says commentator Michael Van Vaerenbergh. “The winner will soon get 120 million euros. That is huge.”

“But small clubs can also extend a lot, with 2 million euros per victory. Auckland City, the amateur team from New Zealand, played a draw against Boca Juniors in the group phase and left 1 million euros. For such a team that is an amazing amount.”

The sporting question was in advance: Can the top clubs from the other continents put the rich European giants on fire?
The answer is mixed. “There were not many surprises yet,” says commentator Stef Wijnants.

Atlético and Porto could not place themselves in the group stage and there was that victory of Flamengo against Chelsea. But the real stunts were saved for the 1/8th finals.

“Inter lost to Fluminense and the real shock was that Al-Hilal Manchester City turned off,” says Wijnants.

But despite the nice posters, the turnout is moderate. Various competitions were completed for half -empty stadiums. To counter that, FIFA tries to get rid of dumping prices.

Thierry Courtois, father of Real goalkeeper Thibaut, is present in the US for the World Cup. He sees that especially the South American teams attract many people.

“At Real, the competitions were always sold out. At Bayern-Boca Juniors, the Arena was also packed. The Brazilian and Argentinian teams ensure full stadiums.”

“It is striking how the South American and African fans make a feast. The motivation also seems greater for those teams,” says Van Vaerenbergh.

Wijnants thinks that the European fans do not make the crossing “not completely abnormal”. “Because which European fan will now travel all the way to the US?”

“But if they can encourage their country on the World Cup in the US next year, the fans will get out en masse. That feeling is different.”

“When the US organized the World Cup in 1994, football was really in its infancy. And yet the stadiums were always full.”

In terms of experience, this World Cup for clubs does not have to be a benchmark for the World Cup 2026. What might be the same next summer, the hot is again.

“I can handle it myself,” says father Courtois from the US, “but for the players that is a different matter.”

“If the humidity is as high as now, then it is really very difficult for players. For the European public it might be nice that the matches are played around noon, because then they can watch live via TV. But for the people on the spot it is puffing and blowing.”

“I think that the football world should ask itself whether a World Cup can still take place in the summer in the future,” Wijnants is raising.

“The World Cup in Qatar in 2022 already took place in the winter. In 2034 in Saudi Arabia it will also be the case. But in 2030, in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, or in the summer, it is now more than 40 degrees.”

It seems certain that the weather will soon be a game breaker in the US in the US.

“The American thunderstorm in particular can be a problem,” says Van Vaerenbergh. “If there is a thunderstorm in the air in a radius of 8 miles around the stadium, the players have to stop playing. For example, 7 games have already been stopped.”

However, FIFA is aware of the problem. This way it tries to collect a lot of feedback to adjust where possible next year.

“I already came across the chairman twice, who asked if Thibaut had comments,” Dierry Courtois shares. “I also met Steven Martens, the former CEO of the KBVB who now works for FIFA, and he also kept all comments.”

It makes suggestions rise left and right whether the World Cup should adjust its play locations next summer. “For example, Mexico and Canada, who will only organize a few competitions, could be assigned more matches,” says Van Vaerenbergh.

But whether the present Donald Trump will just agree with that? His buddy Infantino already has a sturdy mountain of homework.