FIFA is pressing ahead with plans for a brand new Club World Cup tournament to be held in the United States next summer. According to Athletic reporter Adam Crafton, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has promised global broadcasters that specific information about the tournament's venue will be revealed at the end of September. The news came as a bolt from the blue, injecting a sense of urgency into the preparations for the tournament, especially for teams that are in dire need of opening negotiations with stadiums and cities across the United States.
Infantino has been in frequent communication with broadcasters lately, with the intention of boosting their interest and confidence in the new Club World Cup. Convincing broadcasters to recognize the value of the tournament is crucial, given FIFA's urgent need to support the tournament with television revenues. However, broadcasters are still wary of the idea, with major concerns including differences in the valuation of broadcasting costs, scheduling conflicts with other major sporting events, and uncertainty over the new format and the teams that will participate.
Broadcasters are particularly concerned that the Club World Cup schedule overlaps with major tournaments such as the Women's Europa League and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, potentially affecting viewers' viewing choices. The broadcasters' concerns are further compounded by the fact that well-known clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and Milan are not participating, while Riyadh Victory, where Crowe plays, has also failed to make the cut, and Lionel Messi's Miami International's eligibility is still unclear.
The success or failure of the new Club World Cup, a 32-team soccer extravaganza, will depend on the organization and execution of the tournament. While the dust has yet to settle on key elements such as venues, training bases, sponsors and broadcasters, FIFA has made it clear that it will be announcing the venues in a few weeks and plans to disclose further information before the December draw.
It is worth noting that Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser, as president of the European Club Association, also spoke with FIFA president Infantino to express his expectations and concerns about the new Club World Cup. These clubs generally expect to earn comparable revenues to the Champions League from the reformed tournament, which will further increase the tournament's commercial value.
In the face of this series of challenges and opportunities, FIFA needs to urgently resolve the problems that have plagued the organization of the tournament in order to ensure that the new Club World Cup can be carried out smoothly and successfully. The timely announcement of the venue will undoubtedly bring a real sense of anticipation and comfort to broadcasters and fans around the world.
