FIFA president Infantino confirms that FIFA Club World Cup 2021 will be in UAE in early 2022
Chelsea earn spot in 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. However, the competition is still due to go ahead.
Club World Cup to take place in “Early 2022”
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.
The UAE has become a hotbed of sporting action amid the Coronavirus pandemic, with the cricket Indian Premier League (IPL) being staged there for 1 and a half of the last two seasons, and the Cricket World Cup is also about to be held there.
For Chelsea, it will mean more games and more travel, even though several players are already suffering from fatigue according to Thomas Tuchel.
Additionally, there are question marks about how it will fit around the Africa Cup of Nations, which is due to take place in January 2022, and which Chelsea duo Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech will both be taking part in.
Senegal have a good chance of going the distance, boasting the likes of Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly as well as Mendy. With AFCON plus the Club world cup, Mendy could find himself playing over 60 games this season.