"Uefa is ready to back Fifa's proposed expansion of the Club World Cup to 48 teams for the next edition in 2029 in a sign of improving relations between their respective presidents, Aleksander Ceferin and Gianni Infantino. European football's governing body had opposed plans to grow the Club World Cup over concerns an expanded tournament could threaten the status of the Champions League, but Uefa is now willing to back Fifa in return for an undertaking that the competition will not be held every two years."
"The Guardian revealed before the Club World Cup in the US last summer Fifa was open to expanding the tournament from 32 teams, primarily to guarantee the participation of more of the biggest European clubs after Barcelona, Liverpool and Manchester United failed to qualify. Infantino then said in a speech at the general assembly of European Football Clubs in Rome last October that expansion was on the agenda, saying Fifa was working to see how we can make this event bigger, even better, even more impactful."
"Real Madrid proposed a two-year cycle for the Club World Cup during talks with Fifa in Miami last June, although given the opposition from Uefa and all the domestic European leagues that idea has not progressed. In a related development Real last week ended their five-year legal battle with Uefa by formally withdrawing from the European Super League,. They appear ready to fall in line with the global football establishment led by Infantino, Ceferin and Nasser al-Khelaifi, the Paris Saint-Germain president who chairs European Football Clubs."
Uefa has agreed to support Fifa's plan to expand the Club World Cup to 48 teams for the 2029 edition, provided the competition will not be staged every two years. Uefa previously opposed expansion over fears it could undermine the Champions League. Real Madrid proposed a biennial cycle but domestic European leagues and Uefa resisted. Real Madrid formally withdrew from the European Super League after a five-year legal battle. Fifa sought expansion to include more major European clubs after several failed to qualify. Fifa faces legal action from European Leagues at the European Commission over the international match calendar.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]