Source: REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, FIFA’s preparations for the Club World Cup are not going smoothly, and Gianni Infantino has promised to announce the match locations by the end of September. The restructured Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams, will be held in the United States next summer, but specific venues, sponsors, and broadcasters have yet to be announced. FIFA hopes to generate billions of dollars in revenue from television broadcasts of the Club World Cup to pay participating clubs’ fees and bonuses. However, so far, broadcasters have been reluctant to meet FIFA’s demands for the event. Earlier reports indicated that FIFA was close to reaching an agreement with Apple for streaming broadcasts of the Club World Cup, but this has not materialized yet. New York, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Nashville, and Cincinnati are among the most likely locations to host Club World Cup matches. However, even if venue issues are resolved, whether broadcasters’ bids will meet FIFA’s requirements remains uncertain.