Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, said that the organization is moving on with plans for a 32-team Club World Cup, while the structure of the following World Cup would be reviewed.
For the first time since his extraordinary news conference at the commencement of Qatar 2022, Infantino spoke to the media in Doha on Friday.
On this occasion, he decided against a 45-minute opening speech and instead used the chance to give an update following a FIFA Council meeting earlier in the day.
Plans to move forward with a previously suggested expansion to the Club World Cup were authorized at that meeting.
Currently, the competition puts the champions of the major continental club competitions against one another every year. The new competition, which will take place every four years, will involve 32 teams from around the world.
“It will be a Club World Cup of 32 teams, every four years, and the first edition will be summer of 2025,” he said. “They will be the best teams in the world invited to participate.”
“I have to say, after this World Cup and the success of groups of four and looking at other competitions such as the Euros, here [four-team groups] have been incredible,” he added
“I think we have to revisit or at least re-discuss the format. This is something that will certainly be on the agenda.”
Speaking two days before Qatar 2022’s final, Infantino summarised the tournament as a success in every way, in his opinion, praising the behaviour of supporters.
“The World Cup has been an incredible success on all fronts,” said Infantino.
“The main one being the fans, the behaviour, the joyful atmosphere, the bringing of people together. The fans meeting the Arab world, it has been very important for the future of all of us.
“When it comes to the matches, we have seen some incredibly competitive games, some surprises, some great goals.
“At the end of the day, there was on average 10 minutes played as additional time every match. This was a very fair World Cup on the pitch, no simulations, not so many yellow and red cards.
“But this shows the compliment goes to the players and coaches, who maintained their calm, and of course the referees.”