FIFA faces opposition from leagues on expanded Club World Cup

FIFA has been warned there is "no room" in the calendar for its new Club World Cup and that the competition will harm domestic leagues.

The 32-team tournament, set to feature 12 European clubs including the last two Champions League winners Chelsea and Real Madrid, was first announced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino in December.

The concept has since gained the support of Europe's top clubs via the European Club Association, but the World Leagues Forum – currently chaired by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters – says it has not been consulted on the matter.

Claus Thomsen, a director of the European Leagues body which represents 40 competitions across the continent including the Premier League and the EFL, urged FIFA to reconsider.

"The world does not need more club competitions in the international match calendar," he said at the European Leagues General Assembly in Prague.

"It is detrimental because there is no room. It’s not good for the players. It creates little value in the markets. It takes value out of the markets where common commercial deals are done domestically.

"If you need to pay for a new tournament, then it takes money away from another tournament. I haven’t heard that the media companies have had rising incomes lately, I’ve heard the opposite. So it’s not good.

"What I think FIFA should seriously consider is how to invest in the development outside Europe. I think that would be fantastic."

European Leagues also called on UEFA to increase the share of its club competition revenue that it gives to talent development programmes at top-flight clubs not involved each season from the current 4% to 10%.

Based on revenue projections for the 2024 to 2027 cycle this 'solidarity’ payment would amount to €480m