International Sports
Bayern’s Harry Kane sets his sights on lifting FIFA Club World Cup trophy
The English star-striker said Bayern is one of the best teams in the world and every tournament they go into their ‘idea is to win’
With just three months to go before the start of the Club World Cup, Bayern München’s star striker Harry Kane reveals he’s set his sights on lifting the coveted trophy.
In a chat with FIFA about the new Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States from June 14, the English player said: “We’re one of the best teams in the world, without a doubt, so every tournament we go into, the idea is to win.”
Kane has struggled to secure significant silverware throughout his career to match his personal achievements with England, Tottenham Hotspur, and now Bayern.
And after a run of 11 straight Bundesliga triumphs, Bayern were astonishingly bumped down into third place during Kane’s debut season in Germany, with Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen winning the title following an unprecedented unbeaten campaign.
This term, under new head coach Vincent Kompany, the Allianz Arena outfit are back on top of the Bundesliga rankings by a comfortable margin and have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after defeating Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 in the round of 16, where Kane scored three times across the two legs.
Kane’s focus is naturally on those two more immediate challenges, but the prospect of competing at the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup presents a new and exciting opportunity, with Bayern having been drawn into Group C alongside CA Boca Juniors, SL Benfica and Auckland City FC.
He said: “We know it’ll be tough, of course, as every major tournament will be. But we’re having a good season. We’re focused on the Bundesliga and the Champions League, but once we’re there in June, I think there’ll be a real hunger to try and be the first ones to win this tournament.”
One of the biggest and most interesting matches of the group stage will be the Bayern vs Boca Juniors game. Kane said: “That will be a special match. I think it’ll be one of the stand-out matches in the whole of the group phase and in the whole tournament.
“That game is in Miami, which will be pretty special with the fanbase there. It’ll be a really tough game but one we’ll enjoy.”
The Club World Cup is clearly beginning to look like an unmissable event, especially after FIFA’s announcement last week that the prize pool for the event has been set at a staggering $1 billion.
Taking place from June 14 to July 13, the challenge will bring together 32 of the world’s top clubs and 63 matches will be held across 12 US cities.
Teams qualified across four seasons by winning titles or through consistent performances in continental club competitions until 2024.