China to host expanded Club World Cup in 2021

SHANGHAI: China will host the first edition of the new, expanded 24-team Club World Cup in 2021, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told reporters on Thursday following a meeting of the global soccer body’s decision-making council in Shanghai.

Infantino said the competition would take place in June-July of that year and that the format, slot allocation and criteria for selecting the teams would be decided in the next few weeks. Infantino did not give an exact breakdown of slots but said there would be eight teams from Europe. The competition is also expected to feature five or six teams from South America, one from Oceania, one from host nation China and three each from the other continental confederations.

Infantino also announced that the hosts for the 2030 World Cup would be chosen in 2024, although he said the Council did not discuss the possibility of allowing Asian countries to bid -- something which would require a change of FIFA rules on the rotation of World Cup hosting.

“It is a historic decision for football,” Infantino said of the decision to choose China for the new-look competition, adding there were no other candidates.

“The new (tournament) will be a competition which anyone who loves football is looking forward to. It is the first real and true (Club) World Cup where the best clubs will compete,” he added.

Infantino said the new tournament would have a “major impact” financially.