FIFA have confirmed plans for an expanded Club World Cup, starting from 2025.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the news with 32 teams to compete in the first event. Manchester United and Manchester City are potentially set to be involved although no club has been rubber-stamped to feature yet.
The move was announced at a FIFA press conference. It has been established to create competition for the UEFA Champions League which is, generally, viewed as the premier competition in the club game. However, that annual showcase only includes teams from Europe as other continents have their own comparative tournaments.
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Morocco has been chosen to host the first Club World Cup in 2025 - and it comes only 12 months before the next FIFA international World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico. It means elite players will have to play all through the summer months for three years straight including Euro 2024 in Germany.
Infantino said: "As you will remember, we agreed a few years ago to have the new men's Club World Cup with 24 teams. This should have taken place in 2021, but was postponed because of Covid."
He continued: "The new men's Club World Cup will, therefore, take place in 2025 and will feature 32 teams, the best teams in the world. Of course, the details of that still need to be discussed and agreed, but the 32-team tournament will go ahead, making it really like a World Cup."
At the press conference, Infantino also confirmed that an equivalent for the women's game will be organised, but there was no start date revealed for that competition. In its now-former guise, the Club World Cup features seven clubs based on those who have succeeded in their respective confederations including Europe.
Chelsea are the current holders. It's understood the new Club World Cup would replace that annual event.
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