24-team World Cup from 2021 discussed

LONDON (AP) — FIFA is exploring expanding the Club World Cup to 24 teams from June 2021, a member of the ruling council said on Monday.

The revamped tournament could open with three groups of eight teams and be played over 18 days. The proposals to enlarge the existing annual Club World Cup were outlined during a meeting in India last week but disclosed only on Monday by FIFA Council member Reinhard Grindel.

FIFA did not respond to requests for comment. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has previously floated plans for a 32-team Club World Cup, said last week that a review of international club, youth, and women’s competitions would report to the next council meeting, in March.

But Grindel, who is also president of the German soccer federation, is already resisting plans to expand the Club World Cup.

“The players need rest and time for recuperation in June,” Grindel wrote on his Facebook page . “FIFA should focus on the competitions for national teams.”