Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
Ed McCambridge

Exclusive: ‘The Club World Cup is a fantastic thing to participate in. To go and produce on the world stage could play a big part in Chelsea’s future’ John Terry tells FourFourTwo how the Blues could use this summer’s tournament as a springboard

John Terry, FIFA Club World Cup.

FIFA’s rejigged Club World Cup is a tournament which has divided football fans across the world.

The 2025 Club World Cup kicks off this summer, with 32 teams across all six federations meeting in the USA for a showdown of unparalleled scale.

While many have lamented the additional strain such a competition is putting on already crammed schedules and overworked players, others are chomping at the bit to see the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City go toe-to-toe with clubs such as Boca Juniors and Inter Miami.

John Terry: “These opportunities don’t come around every year, Chelsea have to take it”

Chelsea qualified for the 2012 Club World Cup after winning that season's Champions League. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Among those backing the revamped competition is John Terry, part of the Chelsea side which reached the 2012 Club World Cup Final, in its previous format, after winning that year’s Champions League title.

Terry, ranked at no.26 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest Premier League players of all time, was injured for the tournament itself, and recalls the FOMO he experienced watching as a fan.

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has one of the largest squads in the Premier League. (Image credit: Getty Images)

“Even under the previous model, we certainly were up for it,” Terry tells FourFourTwo as an ambassador for DAZN. “We lost in the final, which hurt all of us.

“I remember watching the game from the physio room at Chelsea, but all of us who missed out wanted to be a part of it because we realised that it took winning the Champions League to earn the opportunity to go and play in the Club World Cup.

“Those opportunities don't come around every year. So when it's there, you have to go and embrace it and go and take it.”

Beyond the attraction of winning silverware, the 2005 PFA Player of the Year insists there are other huge benefits to taking part on offer to his former club this summer.

The Club World Cup is a big opportunity, according to Terry (Image credit: Getty Images)

“Financially for the clubs, it’s a fantastic thing to participate in – there are tens of millions up for grabs in prize money,” says Terry. “It's a big financial gain that could play a big part in Chelsea's future or future signings.”

The size of Chelsea’s squad, which remains one of the largest in the Premier League due to huge spending by current owner Todd Boehly, means the tournament could also benefit individuals looking for chances to shine.

“Everyone knows Chelsea have a big squad,” explains Terry.

“We have an opportunity maybe for some younger players to go and go and produce on the world stage and show us what they're made of. We have a big squad and plenty of players coming back from injury so this could be a springboard into next season as well.

“It could be a fantastic summer for Chelsea and all the other clubs taking part.”

John Terry was speaking on Chelsea and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. Watch every game on DAZN for free. Sign up to DAZN today

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.