Why the Club World Cup is shaping up to be a logistical nightmare for Chelsea

Chelsea reach the Club World Cup

Chelsea earned a spot in the Fifa Club World Cup by virtue of their victory in the 2020-21 Champions League, in which they saw off Manchester City 1-0 in the final to lift the trophy.

So far, the Blues have qualified alongside Egypt’s Al Ahly and Australia’ Auckland City, although both enter at an earlier stage than Thomas Tuchel’s side, who enter at the semi-final stage alongside the Copa Libetadores winners (with the final being played next month).

The clubs were due to play their games in Tokyo, but the hosts pulled out of holding the tournament.

Now, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that they will still take place in early 2022, with the UAE now the new hosts of the tournament.

Shaping up to be a logistical nightmare

It is unclear when exactly the Club World Cup is due to take place, but it seems certain to be before the knockout stages of the Champions League, set for the middle of February. Premier League games will be pushed back in order to facilitate the Blues’ trip to the UAE, but there are more pressing concerns surrounding AFCON.

As revealed by The Athletic, players for the Africa Cup of Nations are set to depart their clubs on Boxing Day and, in some cases not rejoin until the second week of February. For Chelsea, this will leave them without Edouard Mendy for up to eight games, depending on how deep Senegal make it in the competition.

Should they make the Champions League knockout stages, Tuchel’s side could find themselves with a very busy February, which will surely impair their ability to grind out results, while quarantining rules could yet upset the proverbial apple cart even more.