Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller ramps up enthusiasm for Club World Cup: “Still a World Championship.”

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·23. April 2025

Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller ramps up enthusiasm for Club World Cup: “Still a World Championship.”

Thomas Müller’s dream of ending his FC Bayern Munich career hoisting the Champions League trophy at the Allianz Arena won’t come to pass. It nevertheless appears as if the 35-year-old has made his peace with this reality. In a Kicker interview, the German footballing legend spoke on his enthusiasm at representing his Bundesliga side at the coming Club World Cup.

Müller will receive a short-term contract extension and play his final games for the only club he’s ever represented at the forthcoming competition. Bayern head to the USA in June to contest the new competition. The German record champions will face Auckland City (June 15 in Cincinnati), Boca Juniors (June 21 in Miami) and Benfica Lisbon (June 24 in Charlotte) in Group C.

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“Of course, we want to march through to the knockout stages,” Müller was sure to tell Kicker. “But it’s mostly about taking on the challenge, physically and competitively. That’s what’s exciting. It’s not about titles. The title is just a piece of metal you get when you win the competition. But that’s not what makes you happy. It’s the journey that appeals to me.”

Müller seemed to find a way to adjust his mind to the manner in which his farewell shall come. Even if it remains to be seen how much enthusiasm among football fans this new tournament will generate, Müller noted that the location of the Club World Cup left him feeling motivated.

The real World Cup will take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year. Can FIFA’s new Club World Cup replace or even enhance the World Cup “dress rehearsal” feeling of the now-defunct Confederations Cup?

Müller appears to think so.

“We naturally must get to know [the coming competition] first,” Müller said. “but it is a world championship. In this format, it feels a bit more like a World Cup. The fact that it is taking place in the country where the real World Cup will be held the following year makes it very exciting for us, of course.”

GGFN | Peter Weis