Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA, unveiled plans for a 32-team Club World Cup beginning in 2025 amid alleged opposition from the top clubs in Europe. The competition’s expansion has long been one of Infantino’s pet projects. A 24-team competition in China in 2021 that would have included eight European teams was postponed owing to the coronavirus pandemic. The new-look competition, according to Infantino, will be considerably greater than anticipated.
u201cWe had agreed a few years ago to have a new 24-team menu2019s Club World Cup,u201d the FIFA president said at the World Cup in Doha. It should have taken place in 2021 but was postponed because of Covid. The new competition will take place in 2025 and will feature 32 teams, making it really like a World Cup.u201d
This week, reports in the British media said that European clubs had rejected FIFA’s plan to introduce the competition under its new format.Instead of annually, as is the case for the present seven-team event, an expanded tournament will be held every four years.
u201cThe first edition will take place in 2025 in the summer and during that slot where in past years it was the Confederations Cup,u201d Infantino said. u201cIt will be slightly longer because there will be 32 teams but they will be the best teams in the world who will be invited to participate, he said next yearu2019s Club World Cup, in its current format, would take place in Morocco from February 1 to 11, 2023.
The event was first conducted in Morocco in 2013 and then again in 2014. The most recent iteration was held in the United Arab Emirates in February, with Chelsea taking home the championship. The event will carry on in its current format in 2023, featuring the top side from the host country together with the six continental champions. Real Madrid, who won the UEFA Champions League last year, will represent Europe.The other reigning continental champions are Auckland City of New Zealand, Seattle Sounders of the United States, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, Flamengo of Brazil, Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, and Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.
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