Reports in Italy suggest FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup will start in 2021, with Juventus, Inter and Milan all invited.
World football’s governing body is seeking to expand the current tournament, which features the winners of the UEFA, CONCACAF, AFC, CAF, OFC and CONMEBOL Champions Leagues.
FIFA wants to expand the tournament to revamp the tournament, holding it every four years in a deal would could be worth around €21bn.
Today’s Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the first edition will be played in June 2021, with the teams selected by invitiation.
It would comprise the most successful clubs in history, with Juve, Inter, and Milan all being invited from Serie A.
The FIFA Council could approve the move before this summer’s World Cup, but if there is broad consensus it could even be rubber stamped at an extraordinary meeting this month.
The dates for 2021 have already been selected, Gazzetta reports, with the tournament to run from June 10 to 28.
There would be 24 teams divided into eight groups of three, with the eight group winners competing in the knockout phase.
In the knockout rounds matches will last 90 minutes and go immediately to penalties in the event of a draw.
So far there is no host, but China is believed to be keen to host the event, not least to practice for a future World Cup bid.
Half of the teams would come from UEFA, with two from Africa, two from Asia and two from North America.
Three South American teams would qualify automatically, with a play-off between a fourth side and an Oceania representative to make up the 24 teams.
Given that the first tournament will be invitational, FIFA has already drawn up a prospective list of the teams to take part.
Real Madrid, Milan, Bayern, Barcelona, ​​Liverpool, Ajax, Inter and Manchester United will all be invited, as will Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
The final place would be taken by one of Manchester City, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Porto, Benfica or Borussia Dortmund.
