Liverpool or Manchester United could be set for a major windfall as a result of a revamp to the Club World Cup format, a new report says.
The current competition is played between the winners of seven continental club competitions from the previous season, and the league-winning team from the host nation.
Real Madrid are the current champions, and the Club World Cup's most successful team, having lifted the trophy on five occasions.
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In December, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that the Club World Cup would expand to a 32-team tournament in 2025.
It was due to be changed to a 24-team format in 2021, with the first edition to be played in China, but the revamp was scrapped as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now, the qualifying criteria for the tournament has been approved by FIFA's council - and English teams could be in for major paydays.
Liverpool, Man Utd could get big windfall
The criteria includes the 2021 winners of the Champions League, meaning Chelsea are guaranteed to be involved in the 2025 competition.
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The Times report that the Blues should receive at least £25 million as a result of their participation, which could rise to as high as £50 million.
Other teams involved will include Real Madrid and the winners of the Champions League in this and next season.
Liverpool and Manchester United could also qualify for the competition. That is because the other eight European spots will be based around coefficient rankings, which are calculated based upon teams' performances in UEFA competitions over the previous five seasons.
Therefore, either side can qualify by placing the top eight positions of the coefficient rankings, or by winning the Champions League before the qualifying period closes.
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Both teams are previous Club World Cup winners. Manchester United lifted the trophy in 2008, beating Ecuadorian side LDU Quito 1-0 in the final.
Liverpool, meanwhile, won the competition for the only time in 2019, beating Flamengo 1-0 after extra time in the final. They finished as runners-up in 2005, losing to fellow Brazilian giants Sao Paulo.
They will now hope to qualify for the revamped 32-team tournament, which is set to feature the top teams from the footballing world.
The current coefficient ranking is as follows, from the 2018/19 season (via the official UEFA website):
- 1. Bayern Munich (132.000 points)
- 2. Manchester City (132.000)
- 3. Liverpool (123.000)
- 4. Chelsea (123.000)
- 5. Real Madrid (112.000)
- 6. Paris Saint-Germain (112.000)
- 7. Manchester United (98.000)
- 8. Barcelona (98.000)
Topics: Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup
Ryan Smart