FIFA activists voted to extend the tournament to 24 teams. All participants will be in eight groups of 3 teams each. Only the winners of each group will be promoted to the cup stage. However, this is not the end of the changes. Now this Cup will be held once every four years, which is supposed to increase the prestige of the tournament. The first edition is to take place from 17 June to 4 July 2021. We don't just know the host of the tournament.
The biggest dispute was, as usual, over money. FIFA wants to distribute 25% of revenues to continental federations for distribution. The activists of European clubs who do not sit on the FIFA Council did not want to agree to such a division. Friday's announcement was made by Gianni Infantino, despite a letter from the biggest European clubs informing him that they will not take part in the tournament. The letter was signed on Tuesday by the governors of Manchester United, Ajax, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. When asked if he was worried about the prospect of organising a Cup without any of Europe's elite clubs, he answered:
We hope that all the best teams will take part and we have had some very positive discussions with UEFA. But today it was our duty to make a decision, because we have to deal with organisational matters - it is only two years now.
In the context of the performances of teams from the Old Continent, it was also a lot of problems with determining how many teams will come to the event in 2021. At first FIFA wanted it to be as many as 12 teams. However, the European Football Federation has made it clear that eight European teams will take part in the tournament. The criteria for the selection of participants are not yet known. The winners of the Champions League and the European League will surely take two places.
What do you think about the whole situation? Let us discuss it in the comments.
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