FIFA to launch new Club World Cup format

A new 32-team men’s Club World Cup is set to be officially launched in June 2025.

This was revealed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino during his closing World Cup press conference on Friday. 

The competition is said to have been agreed on during a FIFA Council held on Friday.

It will take place every four years and replaces the 24-team version which was due to take place in 2021. The tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW CLUB WORLD CUP FORMAT 

“The first edition will take place in 2025 in the summer,” said Infantino.

“During that slot where in the past we used to have the Confederations Cup. It will be slightly longer because obviously there are 32 teams.

“But they will be the best teams in the world. They will be invited to participate. All of the details will be developed in due course,” he said.  

“We will decide where it will take place as well over the next few weeks or months in consultation with all of the stakeholders.” 

The current Club World Cup system is a seven-team competition. 

Meanwhile, FIFA also announced that the next Club World Cup will take place in Morocco. The competition involving Confederations champions will take place from 1-11 February 2023.

NEW WOMEN’S COMPETITION 

A women’s Club World Cup and a new friendly tournament known as the “FIFA World Series” was also announced. It was created to allow teams from different confederations to play each other in the March international window in even years.

The September and October international windows will be merged to form one, four-game period.

The world football motherbody has already revealed that the 2026 World Cup, expanded from 32 teams to 48, would compromise 16 groups of three teams. Although that decision could still be reversed.

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