During the 49th UEFA Congress, FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke extensively about the Club World Cup, a tournament set to take place in the USA this summer, featuring Juventus. According to `Calcio e Finanza`, Infantino stated: “New tournaments, like the FIFA Club World Cup, are on the horizon. You – general secretaries and presidents of European associations, as well as representatives from other continents – will be invited to the FIFA Summit in Miami later this year. There, you will witness the first edition of this new competition, held in the United States from June 14 to July 13. The 32 best clubs in the world will compete for the official title of world champion.”
“This is already exciting, but delving deeper reveals the unique significance of club football. I recall when the UEFA Champions League was established. Today, the former UEFA general secretary who played a key role in its foundation is no longer with us, but his legacy lives on. The Champions League has become an extraordinary success – not just for European football, but for global football.”
“The FIFA Club World Cup will naturally have a strong European presence, with 12 teams from the continent. But it extends further. Looking at the FIFA World Cup, only eight nations have ever won it. In contrast, the new FIFA Club World Cup will see participation from teams from 34 different European countries – exceeding the number of European nations that have ever participated in the FIFA World Cup (33).”
“Another significant aspect of this tournament is the economic impact. Beyond the substantial prize money for participating clubs, 20% of the revenues will go to non-participating clubs. In many parts of the world, such a percentage is unheard of. This will significantly contribute to the growth of football globally. Furthermore, because football is for everyone, the FIFA Club World Cup will be broadcast for free on DAZN. This will ensure that fans from every corner of the globe can watch the best football on the planet.”
“At FIFA, we believe in creating opportunities for all. And for those still questioning the number of games played, let me remind you that FIFA is responsible for only 1% of all matches organized worldwide.”