The Club World Cup, featuring 32 men's teams gathered from leagues across the globe, is Mr. Infantino's signature innovation, a competition he is so wedded to that his name appears on the newly created championship trophy not once but twice.
Despite Mr. Infantino's high hopes, there is no guarantee that the tournament will be a success. Obstacles and missteps have blighted the path to the first game.
In Europe, leagues and the global players' union have filed lawsuits over what they say are Mr. Infantino and FIFA's unilateral moves to add more events to an already congested global calendar that risks the health of players.
Fans have also expressed dismay at how, in an effort to generate interest, FIFA appeared to have found a way to secure a place for Lionel Messi's Inter Miami squad, eliminated from the Major League Soccer playoffs in the opening round.
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