Japan to Host 2021 Club World Cup
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Japan was chosen to host a traditional, seven-team Club World Cup in December 2021.
FIFA wanted a December 2020 edition in Qatar to be the last with seven teams — six continental champions and the host nation’s domestic league winner. The format often attracts little interest and is routinely won by the European club.
The 24-team relaunch in China was squeezed off the soccer calendar after the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March. UEFA and South American soccer body CONMEBOL also postponed their national team tournaments by one year.
The 24-team Club World Cup is “still on the agenda, we just haven’t decided when it will take place,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said during a virtual news conference.
In November, the governing body announced that the 2020 Club World Cup had been rescheduled from December 2020 to February 2021 to give teams in Asia, North America and South America time to finish club championships which were suspended due to COVID-19.
Persepolis of Iran will have a chance to participate in the prestigious event as AFC champion. The Reds will meet winner of East Zone on December 19 in the 2020 AFC Champions League.