May 2 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino (pictured) has once again floated the idea of a new Women’s Club World Cup, saying the competition “is coming soon”.
In an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe, Gianni Infantino said a women’s Club World Cup is being planned as part of a broader strategy to “revolutionise” the female game.
“My dream is also to see the birth of the very first Women’s Club World Cup. It’s coming very soon. And it will really revolutionise women’s football,” said Infantino.
Even before the global health crisis erupted, Infantino had repeatedly suggested FIFA wanted to launch the new competition in the near future. He also tried to revive his idea for a Women’s World League, mimicking a Nations League on a global scale at the time, but without much success.
A new Women’s Club World Cup would mirror FIFA’s ambitious plans for the men’s equivalent, which to date has been organised as a quick-fire knockout competition between seven clubs. The world federation has expanded the competition to 24 teams, but due to the Covid-19 crisis the inaugural 24-team tournament to be played in China this summer had to be postponed.
“What I’m sure is that this new competition will eventually become the best club event in the world, and help develop football on all continents,” said Infantino. “It will offer a real possibility for clubs from all regions to reach the highest level while giving the big clubs, especially European ones, a unique playing field in which to compete.”
Zurich sees the tournament as a potential new money-spinner at the top of the game to complement revenues from the World Cup, FIFA’s main source of income.
A Women’s World Cup would have the potential of uniting the USA’s best NWSL clubs and Europe’s best performers in the Women’s Champions League as well as clubs from more developing regions. Recently, Europe’s leading clubs have invested substantially in their women’s teams. The season’s Women’s Champions League final will be between Barcelona and Chelsea.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714183752labto1714183752ofdlr1714183752owedi1714183752sni@o1714183752fni1714183752