Top clubs in Europe, under the aegis of the European Clubs Association, have taken a decision on FIFA’s planned 32-team World Cup, MySportDab reports.
Currently, the world football governing body runs a small and less-popular Club World Cup – FIFA Club World Cup, for winners of continental club competitions.
The FIFA World Cup is organized annually, and it features champions of continental club competitions across the globe.
Now, FIFA is seeking an expanded version of the FIFA Club World that will feature 32 clubs across different continents, and the tournament will be organized every four years, just like World Cup tournaments.
The tournament was expected to kickstart in 2025 in the USA, a year before the 2026 World Cup, to serve as a test run to the World Cup, which will be hosted by the same country.
To push through the proposal, FIFA has been in negotiations with European Club Associations – a body representing 220 elite clubs in Europe – for approval.
According to Daily Mail, the ECA has rejected the proposal, which they believe will rival the UEFA Champions League.
In a meeting with the ECA, FIFA President Gianni Infantino refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the ECA to release players for FIFA international breaks.
The current Memorandum of Understanding is set to expire on December 31st of this year.
The face-off between FIFA and the ECA may see clubs not releasing players for international breaks and is a tactical move by Infantino to persuade the ECA to consent to the revised FIFA Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, FIFA is planning to offer a whopping £150million for the 32-team club World Cup if it goes through.
It is believed the ECA could be forced to rethink their position on the proposed club tournament if it holds true.
