Infantino confirms new 32-team Club World Cup and revamped World Cup format will be revisited
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the governing body is continuing with its plans for a 32-team Club World Cup, while the format for the next World Cup is set to be reviewed.
>Infantino was speaking to the media in Doha on Friday for the first time since his extraordinary press conference at the start of Qatar 2022.
He opted against a 45-minute opening monologue on this occasion, instead taking the opportunity to provide an update following a meeting of the FIFA Council earlier in the day.
During this meeting, plans were approved to proceed with a previously proposed extension to the Club World Cup.
The competition currently pits the winners of major continental club competitions each year, but the new version will feature 32 teams from around the world and will take place once every four years.
"It will be a 32-team Club World Cup, every four years, and the first edition will take place in the summer of 2025," he said. "It will be the best teams in the world invited to participate."
Infantino also revealed that FIFA is rethinking its format for the next World Cup, which will be the first with 48 teams competing.
Initially, FIFA planned the tournament to consist of 16 groups of three teams; however, enlightened by the drama at the end of the first leg of Qatar 2022, Infantino suggested groups of four are likely to remain.
“I have to say that after this World Cup and the success of the groups of four and looking at other competitions like the Euros, here [the groups of four teams] have been incredible,” he said. he added
"I think we need to revisit or at least re-discuss the format. This is something that will definitely be on the agenda."
Speaking two days before the Qatar 2022 final, Infantino summed up the tournament as a success by all accounts, in his view praising the behavior of the fans.
"The World Cup was an incredible success on all fronts," Infantino said.
"The main thing being the fans, the behavior, the happy atmosphere, bringing people together. The fans meeting the Arab world, it was very important for all of our future.
"When it comes to games, we saw some incredibly competitive games, surprises, great goals.
"At the end of the day, there was an average of 10 minutes of added time played in each game. It was a very fair World Cup on the pitch, no simulations, not so many yellow and red cards.< /p>
"But it shows that the compliment goes to the players and the coaches, who have kept their cool, and of course the referees."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the governing body is continuing with its plans for a 32-team Club World Cup, while the format for the next World Cup is set to be reviewed.
>Infantino was speaking to the media in Doha on Friday for the first time since his extraordinary press conference at the start of Qatar 2022.
He opted against a 45-minute opening monologue on this occasion, instead taking the opportunity to provide an update following a meeting of the FIFA Council earlier in the day.
During this meeting, plans were approved to proceed with a previously proposed extension to the Club World Cup.
The competition currently pits the winners of major continental club competitions each year, but the new version will feature 32 teams from around the world and will take place once every four years.
"It will be a 32-team Club World Cup, every four years, and the first edition will take place in the summer of 2025," he said. "It will be the best teams in the world invited to participate."
Infantino also revealed that FIFA is rethinking its format for the next World Cup, which will be the first with 48 teams competing.
Initially, FIFA planned the tournament to consist of 16 groups of three teams; however, enlightened by the drama at the end of the first leg of Qatar 2022, Infantino suggested groups of four are likely to remain.
“I have to say that after this World Cup and the success of the groups of four and looking at other competitions like the Euros, here [the groups of four teams] have been incredible,” he said. he added
"I think we need to revisit or at least re-discuss the format. This is something that will definitely be on the agenda."
Speaking two days before the Qatar 2022 final, Infantino summed up the tournament as a success by all accounts, in his view praising the behavior of the fans.
"The World Cup was an incredible success on all fronts," Infantino said.
"The main thing being the fans, the behavior, the happy atmosphere, bringing people together. The fans meeting the Arab world, it was very important for all of our future.
"When it comes to games, we saw some incredibly competitive games, surprises, great goals.
"At the end of the day, there was an average of 10 minutes of added time played in each game. It was a very fair World Cup on the pitch, no simulations, not so many yellow and red cards.< /p>
"But it shows that the compliment goes to the players and the coaches, who have kept their cool, and of course the referees."
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