FIFA's Club World Cup plans get European clubs' backing

FIFA's plans for an expanded Club World Cup now have the backing of Europe's clubs.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino first unveiled proposals for the new 32-team event prior to the World Cup final in Qatar last December. He said the new event would feature 12 European teams and be played every four years from 2025.

The game's global governing body has been criticised by a domestic leagues group over a lack of consultation over the new Club World Cup, but the European Club Association (ECA) has now endorsed it, along with FIFA's plans to introduce an annual match between the Champions League winners and the team which wins an intercontinental play-off tournament and a Women's Club World Cup.

The ECA's new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FIFA runs until the end of 2030, also recognises ECA support for the new international match calendar approved by the FIFA Council earlier this month.

The MoU on the calendar is crucial to the functioning of the club-country relationship as it governs the release of players for international dates.

The World Cup club benefits programme, which compensates clubs for the release of players to compete in the tournament, will now total approximately €329.2m for the 48-team 2026 and 2030 finals compared to €193.8m for 2018 and 2022.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: "This is a significant day for the future of football and its long-term stability.

"We are very happy to renew and strengthen our co-operation agreement with ECA, an important stakeholder representing clubs from all over Europe.

"To have the new international match calendar endorsed by ECA provides the necessary balance between club and national team football.

"We have exciting projects ahead, including the new FIFA Club World Cup