FIFA, the world football association, has caused controversy by announcing plans to introduce another club competition featuring 32 teams alongside the newly reformed Club World Cup. This new competition will include German clubs and an annual mini-tournament will take place from 2025 for the winners of major competitions in the confederations, with the Champions League winner from Europe among them. The idea is to promote competitiveness and further details are set to be published soon.
The Fifa Council has agreed upon a “strategic concept” for the new competition during the current congress in Kigali, Rwanda. The continental winners of the competition will also participate in the showdown. However, the European Club Association has announced resistance, with some representatives threatening to boycott the tournament.
The reformed Club World Cup will be introduced every four years from 2025 and will include twelve starting places for Europe. South America will have six clubs, while Asia, Africa, North and Central America, and the Caribbean will have four each. Oceania will have one club participating. The host country will also be involved.
From Europe, the winners of the Champions League of the last four years will be sure to participate in the tournament. The other places will be awarded according to a ranking from the same period. Despite resistance from the ECA, FIFA has insisted that the changes are necessary to promote competitiveness and develop the game further.
