Gianni Infantino has confirmed that FIFA will launch a 32-team men’s Club World Cup in 2025, the Daily Mail reported.
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.
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.
Infantino also revealed that a women’s Club World Cup will also take place in 2025 but details are yet to be elaborated.
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 can be FIFA president until 2031, saying that he can run for three terms in charge. (NewsWire)