FIFA is in full swing with intense preparations for next summer's Club World Cup in the United States. President Gianni Infantino has assured global broadcasters that specific information about the venue will be revealed by the end of September, according to Adam Crafton of The Athletic. The promise has put extra pressure on preparations, especially for teams that have to negotiate with stadiums and cities across the U.S. on short notice.
Infantino has been interacting a lot with broadcasters lately, trying to boost their interest and confidence in the new Club World Cup. Winning the trust of broadcasters is crucial, given that FIFA needs significant television revenues to keep the tournament afloat. But broadcasters remain wary for now, mainly because of differences in broadcasting cost estimates, scheduling conflicts with other major sporting events, and uncertainty about the new format and teams.
What worries broadcasters even more is that the Club World Cup schedule overlaps with major tournaments such as the Women's Europa League and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, which could affect viewer ratings. In addition, the failure of well-known clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and Milan to qualify, as well as the inability of Riyadh Victory, to which Crowe belongs, and the uncertainty over the qualification of Miami International, to which Lionel Messi belongs, have added to broadcasters' concerns.
The success or failure of the new Club World Cup, a 32-team soccer extravaganza, will largely depend on organization and execution. While key elements such as venues, training bases, sponsors and broadcasters have yet to be finalized, FIFA has announced that it will release information on the venues in a few weeks and provide more details before the draw in December.
Notably, the President of the European Club Association, Paris Saint-Germain's President Nasser, also spoke with Infantino, expressing his expectations and concerns about the new Club World Cup. These clubs expect to earn revenues comparable to those of the Champions League through this tournament, which will put a higher demand on the commercial value of the tournament.
In the face of challenges and opportunities, FIFA urgently needs to resolve the many issues that have plagued the tournament to ensure the smooth running and success of the new Club World Cup. The timely release of venue information will undoubtedly bring anticipation and comfort to broadcasters and fans around the world.
