By Arkady Petrov
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After hosting the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Olympics, and the Copa América in 2019, Brazil wants to be in the center of planet football’s attention, once again.
Brazilian top clubs have already advised Fifa of their desire to host the first edition of the new Club World Cup, planned to take place from June to July 2021 with 24 teams from around the world, promising to be a bountiful source of revenue and global interest.
The new format is FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s project; he should be reelected this week for another four years in command.
He has persuaded associations to abandon the current model of a seasonal club tournament and start organizing a single mega-event every four years.
The first under the new format will take place in 2021, replacing the former Confederations Cup. According to the project, the Europeans would have twelve of the 24 teams, against five for South America, in addition to lesser numbers for North America, Africa, and Asia.
The Club World Cup would provide Brazil with another opportunity to use the stadiums built and renovated for the World Cup.
According to projections, with “global” clubs on the pitch and supporters of the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Liverpool in every corner of the country, it would not be difficult to sell out all the matches.
The big competitor for 2021 should be China, also looking to enter the major world tournaments circuit before hosting its own World Cup.
In addition to demonstrating interest, Beijing has contributed financially to Fifa in 2018, replacing sponsors who had faded away as a result of the organization’s corruption scandals in 2015.
Each edition of the Club World Cup could generate US$3 (R$12) billion, and the tournament would be held every four years between 2021 and 2033.