FIFA Wants to Charge for Right to Host Revamped 24-Team Club World Cup
GENEVA (AP) – FIFA wants to charge hosting fees for staging the planned 24-team Club World Cup tournaments starting in 2021.
In a briefing document seen by The Associated Press, FIFA says host markets ''must have a propensity to pay a hosting fee'' - a business model similar to Formula One auto racing.
FIFA has a $25 billion offer from a consortium including Chinese, Saudi Arabian and American interests to help organize and market the revamped Club World Cup and a new global league for national teams for 12 years through 2033. Details were first reported this week by the New York Times.
Each edition of the Club World Cup would have guaranteed revenue of $3 billion.
The Club World Cup would be played in June or July every four years and include 12 European teams, including the Champions League finalists and Europa League winners for the previous four seasons. South American clubs would have four guaranteed places.
The 24 clubs would share 75 percent of the tournament revenue, the briefing document said.
However, the project faces strong opposition from European soccer leaders who see a threat to the UEFA-run Champions League.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has said he doubts the proposed Club World Cup could start in 2021, and European clubs leader Andrea Agnelli, the Juventus president, said last month no new competition should be added before 2024.
The briefing document states FIFA could make a final decision on the Club World Cup at a meeting in Moscow on June 10. The FIFA Council is chaired by President Gianni Infantino.
Infantino was rebuffed by council colleagues last month when he pressed for progress on the $25 billion offer before a 60-day deadline expires in May. He did not identify the investors, citing a non-disclosure agreement.
