Agency :
FIFA plans to postpone the Club World Cup until early next year due to hosting challenges linked to the pandemic, people familiar with the planning said.
Coronavirus restrictions led to Japan withdrawing from staging the seven-team tournament this December, and South Africa then abandoned a bid due to the need to get more of the country vaccinated.
FIFA is now exploring staging the event in January or February, the people told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss ongoing talks. Qatar is an option – like in February when Bayern Munich won the delayed 2020 edition in Doha – to help the Gulf nation test venues for the men’s national teams’ World Cup that starts in November 2022.
FIFA is already due to stage the Arab Cup competition in December in Qatar as part of World Cup preparations.
