However, the 2010 World Cup isnРІР‚в„ўt going toР’В go as smoothly for him. There is even speculation that any Spain-Portugal 2030 bid could involve high-profile fixtures such as the opening game taking place in Uruguay to recognise the romance of the centenary.Simon has been regarded as one of theР’В best referees to come out of South America.

That would suit the latter, since it would be outside a World Cup cycle. That 2028 event is virtually certain to be a 32-team tournament, with qualifying condensed but the Nations League expanded so as to include South American countries.

While the FA and their partners know they wonРІР‚в„ўt get the votes, the switch is being perceived as an indication most of their business will from now on be with Uefa rather than Fifa. There has been surprise that Fifa havenРІР‚в„ўt yet been as proactive with North America, given USA, Canada and Mexico are sharing the 2026 World Cup, and their primary interest right now is developing new or growing markets.Р”В®ven the five-federation Euro 2028 bid is seen in this context. Sources within governing bodies chuckle about InfantinoРІР‚в„ўs love of the clasping handshake, that almost signals a sense of statesmanship. It is why those in the club game feel he actually has better working relationships with countries who want to РІР‚СљsportswashРІР‚Сњ because there is a perceived overlap in goals. Infantino, for his part, does have the usual ambitions of using the game to heal the world to bridge differences. Hence the ongoing importance of financial power bases like Abu Dhabi, and the growth of the current Club World Cup.Р”Р‡ifa would of course insist their intentions are pure, and that all this is only about the growth of the game. They wanted partnerships worth Р’Р€2bn, but couldnРІР‚в„ўt even get half that.

The global body ran a tender process for the Club World Cup at the end of 2019, just before the pandemic, but it wasnРІР‚в„ўt as successful as theyРІР‚в„ўd have liked. Sources who have been in the room with Infantino in Abu Dhabi say he has repeatedly been pressed on plans for the biennial World Cup, and when there might be movement, but that he didnРІР‚в„ўt give concrete answers. That entire idea remains somewhat airy, though. It is not simply about Fifa leverage.Р’В It is about Infantino showing investors that Fifa have more sources of revenue. Uefa are determined to block such plans.Р”Р„s such, the biennial World Cup is really seen as a weapon to smash that. The battle over the biennial World Cup is consequently considered a proxy for a much bigger war between Fifa and Uefa over the future of the club game.Р”Р„leksander Ceferin and his hierarchy know that Infantino has seen the riches of the Champions League, and wants his own version - that expanded Club World Cup. Saudi ArabiaРІР‚в„ўs own new power in the game has been seen through the takeover of Newcastle United, as they follow their political allies in Abu Dhabi. The grand plan was for it to be a 24-team event in China, funded by SoftBank, a Japanese conglomerate that has worked with Saudi Arabian investors. If Infantino had his way, it would have been much larger, and this Club World Cup would have been very different. The competitionРІР‚в„ўs prize money is still at a mere $5m. This is why the Club World Cup is so relevant. The bottom line is that this is still where FifaРІР‚в„ўs main long-term funding comes from. The entire Middle East is described by many in the game as РІР‚Сљ Fifa heartlandРІР‚Сњ, most of all with this yearРІР‚в„ўs World Cup taking place a mere 300km away from Abu Dhabi in Qatar. A core of the gameРІР‚в„ўs key figures are present. As it is, Abu Dhabi just looks like the new centre of global football. Had ChelseaРІР‚в„ўs narrow 1-0 win in the Champions League final gone a slightly different way, this could have been a grand sort of homecoming. You only have to look at Manchester CityРІР‚в„ўs dominance, and how Abu Dhabi ownership of the club has transformed the landscape of European football. The fact this is the fifth time the emirate has hosted the Club World Cup is itself a symbolic illustration of its growing power.

Fifa 2002 game palmeiras