FIFA unveil plans to launch a new 32-team Club World Cup in 2025, despite clubs refusing to agree to it, with at least eight European giants invited to join after Covid put a stop to their last expansion plan in China
Gianni Infantino has confirmed that FIFA will launch a 32-team men’s Club World Cup in 2025.
It comes after the proposed 2021 FIFA tournament was meant to launch in China but was postponed due to the pandemic.
Sportsmail exclusively revealed this week that Europe’s biggest clubs had rejected a proposal from FIFA to launch a new Club World Cup.
Gianni Infantino has confirmed that FIFA will launch a 32-team men’s Club World Cup in 2025
FIFA have gone ahead with the plans despite clubs refusing to agree to it earlier this week
But speaking in a press conference before the World Cup final on Sunday, Infantino said: ‘The new men’s Club World Cup will therefore take place in 2025 and feature 32 teams, the best teams in the world.’
He said that the details for allocations need to be discussed and agreed but it will go ahead, making it similar to an international World Cup of 32 teams.
FIFA want to hold an expanded Club World Cup every four years in place of the existing annual event, which attracts little interest outside South America.
UEFA are opposed to a concept they see as a threat to the primacy of the Champions League, although the clubs could be persuaded if it is sufficiently lucrative amid rumours of FIFA offering £150milllion in prize money.
Infantino also revealed that a women’s Club World Cup will also take place but details are yet to be elaborated.
Negotiations have taken place in Qatar over the last few weeks, but the clubs are refusing to endorse the proposals.
Infantino also announced a ‘FIFA World Series’ concept is being created in which four teams from four continents will play each other
FIFA had been hoping to get the deal done at a meeting of the European Clubs Association, which represents the interests of the 220 leading European clubs, in Doha last Friday, but Infantino pulled out at the last minute when it became clear his project would not be signed off.
The 2022 Club World Cup will be held in Morocco in February next year and will feature teams, including Real Madrid as European champions.
Infantino announced a ‘FIFA World Series’ concept is being created with friendly tournaments between four teams from different continents in the March international windows in even years.
The FIFA president, who revealed a number of decisions from a council meeting, announced that the hosts for the Men’s World Cup in 2030 will be decided in 2024 and the Women’s World Cup for 2031 will be decided in 2025.
Infantino confirmed that he will can be FIFA president until 2031, saying that he can run three terms in charge. He said his second term will start on March 16.
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