FIFA President Gianni Infantino is assessing nine offers from companies seeking to buy the commercial and broadcasting rights for a new club competition he hopes will become the most lucrative in world football, usurping Europe’s Champions League. The deadline passed Thursday for investors to submit tenders for the rebooted Club World Cup, which is due to begin in June 2021 with a 24-team group stage. “The Club World Cup will become the best club competition in the world — whatever FIFA is doing has to be the best,” Infantino has told Associated Press. The penultimate edition of the annual seven-team version of the Club World Cup is being held in Qatar, with Champions League winner Liverpool playing South American champion Flamengo in Saturday’s final. “This doesn’t mean 50 clubs playing in Club World Cup ... 50 clubs which people around the world can identify themselves with.

Source: Irish Examiner December 20, 2019 12:22 UTC