FIFA is pushing ahead with preparations for next summer's Club World Cup in the United States, with The Athletic's Adam Crafton revealing that FIFA president Gianni Infantino has assured broadcasters across the globe that specific information on the venue will be revealed by the end of September. The announcement has brought an unprecedented sense of urgency to preparations for the tournament, especially for the teams who will be required to negotiate with stadiums and cities across the US at short notice.
Infantino has been actively communicating with broadcasters recently in an effort to boost their confidence and interest in the new Club World Cup. Given that FIFA is struggling to support the tournament through television revenues, gaining the trust of broadcasters is crucial. However, broadcasters remain wary, mainly due to differences in broadcast fee assessments, scheduling conflicts with other major sporting events, and concerns about the new format and the uncertainty of the teams.
The biggest concern for broadcasters is that the Club World Cup schedule clashes with top tournaments such as the Women's Europa League and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, potentially affecting viewer ratings. Meanwhile, the absence of well-known clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and Milan, as well as the lack of clarity on the eligibility of Cairo's Riyadh Victory and Lionel Messi's Miami International, have heightened the broadcasters' misgivings.
The success of the new Club World Cup, a 32-team soccer extravaganza, depends on organization and execution. Although key aspects such as venues, training bases, sponsors and broadcasters have yet to be finalized, FIFA has made it clear that it will be announcing the venues in a few weeks and plans to reveal further information before the draw in December.
Notably, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser, as president of the European Club Association, also spoke with Infantino, expressing his expectations and concerns about the new Club World Cup. Many of Europe's most powerful clubs expect to gain comparable revenue to the Champions League from this reform, which will further increase the commercial value of the tournament.
In the face of a series of challenges and opportunities facing FIFA, there is a need to quickly address the various challenges of tournament organization to ensure the smooth running and success of the new Club World Cup. The timely announcement of the competition venues will bring real anticipation and comfort to broadcasters and fans around the world.
