Mueller: This is a journey that stimulates me

Bayern Munich Football Club Munich played its first match on the second day of the match and was one of the early starters of the 2025™ FIFA Club World Cup. The Bundesliga champion will face Oceania champion Auckland City Football Club in Cincinnati.

Before this highly anticipated global event, FIFA spoke with Bayern idol Thomas Mueller about the matches in the United States, his style of competition and the meaning of winning the championship. After the recent Bundesliga title, Mueller is chasing his last cheer as Bayern player, bringing the end of his extraordinary 25 years at the club.

His expectations before the FIFA Club World Cup First of all, this is a World Cup, and the fact that this competition system feels very new, like a World Cup. We first need to understand the situation of the game. But in fact, it will be held in the country where the [FIFA] World Cup next year, which is obviously very exciting for us. Fans from all over the world gathered together and I was looking forward to a very good atmosphere. From a player’s perspective, the cool thing is that fans of these clubs are spread all over the world and fans will have the opportunity to see these teams play in their country or region. I think we will see a certain level of euphoria, which we can't see here, and everything goes as usual. We look forward to different cultures and different clubs coming together.

The huge number of Bayern official fan clubs in the United States feel good. We know we have great support. But to be honest, this feels normal for me because from my point of view it's cool to be a Bayern fan because we're a special club. Not only are we very good at football; we also represent something special. Most importantly, we have a different ownership structure than other big clubs in the world. In Germany, the "50+1" rule still exists. We are not really driven by investors.

This approach to Bavarian culture, as a down-to-earth but also a giant club in the world football, I don't know if anyone else can be like it in the top five European leagues. I think this is also a great thing about becoming a Bayern fan.

The trick to appear in the right place at the right time

In retrospect, I invented the word "space investigator" myself. I kept getting asked - strange to me - how could I keep showing up in the box and scoring goals so often. Or rather, people and journalists often cannot explain how I succeeded in that department based on what they think I was skilled. Then I try to explain. That was around 2011, who knows. Ultimately, they are very logical runs for me, and I think a lot of other players will run. Maybe I make them in a more penetrating way, with unwavering perseverance and not getting frustrated by not being successful, because you will also run many times in vain. The ball has not come, or the ball has come, you have not played well, or something else.

The basic knowledge of becoming an excellent "space investigator" may make me a little different from players of the same level and position, because I always consider the game itself and my positioning a lot. More importantly, I have had great coaches who really value that, whether it’s Luis van Gaal, or Guardiola, and now Vinny (Vincent Kompani) is the same. They also pay great attention to detail, and you can always learn something from them to improve your positioning because these are often underestimated.

The average fan looked and thought: 'Okay, great shot. Great dribbling. Oh, he's very soon. But in terms of details, whether the football player plays a role or whether you create a goal opportunity, many players often encounter the exact same situation, or are in a similar situation, which always depends on the details. On which side of my body should I catch the ball? Am I putting myself behind my opponent to give myself an advantage? I've always been good at this.

Teach Bavarian culture to new players in Bayern Munich

The most important thing in summer is to go to the beer garden first. There are many kinds of food, not necessarily delicious dishes with special taste. The weather in the beer garden is usually good, with great shade under the big trees – it looks good. People are in high spirits. The young men who came from afar soon realized that things can be relaxed here - of course, they can only relax after training. First they work hard and then go to the beer garden.

Recalling, he wants to do it again

and play again? Good question. I wouldn't even consider fiction like that. Which season will I play? Usually you will answer questions like this in a not-so-smooth season, don't you? 2012 isn't that fun for me, so I really should play another successful game, right? In that case, I would love to play in 2013 again, but the World Cup is in the summer, not a year later. Ultimately, no, I don't want to play any of them anymore. That's too tiring!

The driving force behind his success

Passion for competition and victory, that kind of competitiveness. This has always been the foundation, you can't really learn it, you either have it or you don't have it. For me, it's about proving yourself time and time again, whether it's competitive within the team, which is not easy for the players here, and it's also an external competition as a club. It's about taking on the burden time and time again, both physically and in the game, and winning. This is an exciting thing. It has nothing to do with the trophy. The trophy is just a piece of metal you receive when you win the game, but it's not something that makes you happy. It was the journey there that inspired me.

Bayern fights for the Club World Cup

of course to win it!

Bayern matches at FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Sunday, June 15

Bayern Munich v Auckland City - TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, 12:00

Friday, June 20

Bayern Munich v Boca Youth - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, 21:00

Tuesday, June 24

SL Benfica v Bayern Munich - Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, 15:00