“Too Hot to Compete?” Borussia Dortmund’s Bench Watches Club World Cup Match from Locker Room — and Sparks a Firestorm | OneFootball

The temperature was 87°F (30.5°C) in Cincinnati, but the heat wasn’t just on the pitch — it was on Borussia Dortmund’s intent at the FIFA Club World Cup.

During their group stage clash against what was clearly a much lesser side, Dortmund’s substitutes were spotted watching the match during the 1H from the locker room instead of the bench. The reason? The heat.

The optics were instant fuel for critics. “Soft.” “Embarrassing.” “Not professional.” Those were some of the more generous assessments from fans and pundits, who questioned whether the Bundesliga side — or any top European club — actually cares about this expanded tournament.

Is the Club World Cup a serious objective for UEFA giants, or just an obligation? With increasing fixture congestion and elite players already stretched thin, Dortmund’s locker room confirm what Th standings are saying: the Club World Cup might mean more to clubs from CONMEBOL, CAF and beyond than it does to those from UEFA.

Meanwhile, South American and African sides continue to treat the tournament like a battlefield — with packed benches, tactical urgency, and emotional investment. Yesterday, it was African champ ES Tunis who took down game odds favorite LAFC from MLS with an unconstested 1-0 victory at Geodis Park in Tennessee.

Dortmund’s choice, whether justified or not, may go down as a symbolic misstep that reinforces a dangerous narrative: Europe showed up in America but doesn’t seem to have shown up to win.