FIFA is pressing ahead with final sprint preparations for next summer's new Club World Cup in the United States. According to The Athletic's Adam Crafton, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has assured broadcasters around the world that specific information about the tournament's venues will be unveiled by the end of September. The breaking news has injected an air of urgency into the preparations for the tournament, especially for those teams that have opened urgent negotiations with stadiums and cities across the United States.
Infantino has been interacting with broadcasters a lot lately, trying to boost their enthusiasm and confidence in the new Club World Cup. Given FIFA's desire to support the tournament by generating huge revenues from television broadcasts, convincing broadcasters of the tournament's value will be crucial. But broadcasters remain wary, with the main concerns being disagreements over broadcasting costs, scheduling conflicts with other major sporting events, and uncertainty over the new format and teams.
A major concern for broadcasters is that the Club World Cup's schedule overlaps with heavyweight tournaments such as the Women's Europa League and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, potentially distracting viewers. In addition, the fact that prominent clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and Milan, as well as Riyadh Victory, where Cairo plays, have not qualified, and Lionel Messi's Miami International's qualification is up in the air, are further contributing to the broadcasters' concerns.
The success or failure of the new Club World Cup, a soccer extravaganza involving the top 32, will depend on organization and execution. While the dust has yet to settle on key elements such as venues, training bases, sponsors and broadcasters, FIFA has promised to announce the venues within a few weeks and plans to release more details before the December draw.
It is worth mentioning that Nasser, the president of the European Club Association and president of Paris Saint-Germain, also had an in-depth conversation with Infantino, expressing the expectations of Europe's big clubs for the new Club World Cup. These clubs expect to receive benefits comparable to the Champions League through this tournament reform, which will further increase the commercial value of the tournament.
In the face of these challenges and opportunities, FIFA must quickly resolve the problems in the organization of the tournament to ensure the smooth running and success of the new Club World Cup. The timely release of venue information will undoubtedly bring broadcasters and fans around the world a real sense of anticipation and peace of mind.
