FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes the expanded Club World Cup will usher football into a new era as the tournament prepares to begin in the United States.
Softfootball reports that the competition will feature 32 clubs from across the world, representing a major expansion from the previous format. Inter Miami and Egyptian giants Al Ahly were scheduled to contest the opening fixture.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Infantino compared its significance with the inaugural World Cup held in 1930 saying:
It starts a new era of football, a new era of club football. A little bit like when, in 1930, the first World Cup, right, started.
The FIFA president said the competition was designed to provide clubs from different continents with greater opportunities while making the global game more inclusive. He also acknowledged criticism surrounding ticket prices and the wider commercial approach to the tournament.
The expanded format has attracted many of Europe’s biggest clubs, creating a field featuring Champions League winners, domestic champions and leading teams from other confederations.
For FIFA, the tournament represents an attempt to create a major global club competition with a much broader reach. The tournament will also test FIFA’s vision for global club competition.
