How Are German Clubs Viewing the Club World Cup as a Test for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Berlin, July 3 (NationPress) The results of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup hold profound significance for German football, with both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund stepping into crucial quarterfinals.

Bayern will go head-to-head with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), while Dortmund faces Real Madrid in thrilling all-European encounters. Beyond these high-profile matches, contests against teams from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Arab world are proving to be a rich source of knowledge regarding global football dynamics.

"As we prepare for the 2026 World Cup, it’s essential to evaluate the quality of teams from these regions," stated Michael Rummenigge, a former striker for both Bayern and Dortmund, and the sibling of Bayern board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Despite early skepticism from Europe, Rummenigge indicated that the tournament is acquiring worldwide popularity. He pointed out that the Club World Cup is instrumental for clubs as they gear up for the upcoming Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League seasons, according to reports by Xinhua.

"Advancing to the next stage boosts the international status of the Bundesliga," the three-time German champion remarked.

Dortmund's manager Niko Kovac acknowledged that South American and European teams currently dominate the tournament, but he highlighted the significance of intercontinental matches.

"It's crucial for European clubs to compete against the best from other continents," Kovac asserted. "European fans and clubs are starting to understand that South American teams, along with their supporters, engage with this tournament in a distinct manner."

Kovac also recognizes the broader implications of the tournament, particularly in readying European national teams for the 2026 World Cup, in terms of travel logistics, climate acclimatization, and planning.

Bayern's manager, Vincent Kompany, mirrored this view, describing the exposure to varied tactical approaches as "overwhelmingly interesting."

Even though both German teams might be seen as underdogs against PSG and Real Madrid, Rummenigge believes the experience will be priceless. "It would be invaluable if both teams—or at least one—reach the semifinals," he stated.

This quarterfinal stage also rekindles rivalries: while Bayern has recently triumphed over PSG, the French side clinched the 2025 Champions League title in Munich. Meanwhile, Real Madrid defeated Dortmund in the 2024 final.

"We may be the underdog, but through teamwork, we can achieve success," Kovac concluded.