Pakistan, July 14 -- The first edition of the expanded Club World Cup wraps up this weekend with FIFA president Gianni Infantino already hailing it as a huge success while the world of football faces up to the idea that an imperfect tournament is here to stay.

Infantino's flagship competition - initially supposed to be launched in 2021 before the pandemic intervened - was derided by many, especially in Europe, before it kicked off. It was seen as an unnecessary addition to a crowded calendar, while there were also doubts as to whether it would win over the public.

Even after it began former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dismissed the competition as the "worst idea ever implemented in football".

However, the last month in the United St...