Manchester City could lose the chance to defend their FIFA Club World Cup title. The tournament, which was previously held annually, will adopt a new format with 32 teams and will be held every four years from June 2025.
The first edition of the revised Club World Cup will be held in the United States. Twelve European clubs will participate in the tournament. The four UEFA Champions League winners from 2020/21 to 2023/24 and the other eight teams determined by club rankings based on the same four years.
Six South American clubs will be selected. The four Copa Libertadores winning teams from 2021 to 2024 and two other teams. The remaining matches in the tournament will consist of four clubs each from CONCACAF, AFC and CAF Champions League winners from 2021 to 2024.
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Afterwards, the top-ranked Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) champions from 2021 to 2024 will also be selected. City are determined to defend their crown as world champions, but there is a possibility that their bid may be derailed.
David Tellier, vice president of the French football players’ union, claimed in an interview with the Press Association that the organization is considering legal action to deal with football’s congested schedule. Tellier suggested FIFA’s introduction of the new 32-team tournament was due to a “lust for money”.
“In the face of the refusal of FIFA and UEFA, the addition of competitions, the proliferation of injuries and the mental fatigue that is hitting more and more players, what other answer can we give?” the UNFP vice-president said. Ta. Can legal proceedings be initiated to stop FIFA’s push for competition and money that no one can fool?
“We need to stop that. We are already studying in the UNFP the possibility of taking the calendar issue to court. We cannot be blamed for not trying to find a solution through dialogue. The international calendar is adrift. And it’s up to us to use all means possible to get it back to port as soon as possible. ”
Tellier also called on fans to support the players, saying the current schedule was already “insane” even before the new Club World Cup. He added: “What I don’t understand, other than what the coaches say, are some rare presidents, medical experts, and why it’s just (the association) and the players who are dealing with the disruption of the calendar.” .
“This has implications for clubs, where players are often injured, and also for national leagues, where it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain TV rights that meet expectations, such as in France.
“I have to say that the repetition of matches will ultimately spoil the quality of the program and neither the broadcasters nor the audience are fooled. Today and tomorrow will be even worse, everyone loses. So why should we be the only ones fighting? I don’t understand that.’