FIFA have confirmed that the 2023 Club World Cup will take place in Morocco between 1 and 11 February, while also announcing a new 32-team Club World Cup format from 2025.
The news were confirmed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino after the FIFA Council met on Friday to adopt a number of key decision for the future of football.
It was confirmed that Morocco will host the 2023 Club World Cup, with Wydad Athletic Club (as hosts and CAF Champions League winners) and Al Ahly (CAF Champions League runner-ups) set to represent Africa.
It is understood that Wydad, who also won the CAF Champions League, will represent Morocco as hosts, while Al Ahly will gain a spot the tournament as CAFCL runners-up.
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In addition, the extended Club World Cup with 32 teams, starting from 2025 was also confirmed.
“For men’s football, an expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup™ is set to begin in June 2025 (following the postponement of the original 24-team tournament planned for 2021) and will take place every four years,” FIFA stated.
“The windows for the international match calendar as of 2025 would include one extended window with four matches in late September and early October to replace the current two separate windows in September and October, with the other windows (November, March and June) unchanged.
“In order to increase the possibilities for teams from different confederations to play each other, FIFA would launch friendly tournaments – “FIFA World Series” – which would take place in the March window in even years.
“The decision for the FIFA World Cup 2030 host will also be made in 2024, with the bid regulations to be published early next year.”
FIFA also introduced two new tournaments, namely the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup and the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup.
