Former U.S. national team player Eric Wynalda has been criticized for a lot of things in his transition from player to pundit, but in his most recent take, he just might be onto something.
Wynalda: Club World Cup might’ve just proved that club over country is better
The former U.S. men’s national team suggests that the diverse nature of club overshadows country despite the World Cup’s mass appeal
On the most recent version of his podcast, Unleashed, Wynalda said that the aftermath of FIFA’s Club World Cup might have just proven that club soccer is better than national team play.
Essentially, the rotation of players from all over the world and their propensity to be stars is what makes club soccer more alluring and thus, what the Club World Cup displayed, mainly Chelsea’s run to the title with over 10 countries represented on its roster.
“The answer is simple, club soccer, club football will always be better,” said Wynalda. “World Cup competitions are forced friendships. These are only players who can play for one country, and, you get what you got.”
While that maybe true, there’s no denying that FIFA’s larger men’s World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, galvanizing fans from all over the globe in the name of national pride. It’s FIFA’s biggest moneymaker and draws in mega deals from sponsorships.
But is Wynalda onto something? Is it possible that the Club World Cup displayed that with enough time its perception could change from being seen as another “cash grab” for soccer’s governing body to another anticipated event drawing mass appeal?
We know FIFA certainly hopes so. But it’s an interesting debate, especially when you consider it’s coming from a former player, who’s better known for his time with country over club. Wynalda was lauded as a hero for the United States in the 1994 World Cup, but can you remember the club teams he played for?
“You can pick only the best players from your nationality,” Wynalda continued. “So it poses the question, which is better?”
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