Real Madrid and Barcelona secretly meet FIFA officials

A number of representatives of the biggest European clubs, most notably Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​have met secretly last month with FIFA officials.

On April 20, FIFA officials met with senior representatives of the continent's old clubs to discuss the proposed new format for the Club World Cup, which will take place in the summer after the season, instead of the current mid-season tournament, the Mundo Deportivo newspaper said. (December month).

The newspaper revealed that Florentino Perez, like the presence of Real Madrid in the meeting, while Barcelona's president Josep Maria Bartomio was unable to attend, but sent a senior official at the Catalan club on his behalf.

The tournament is expected to take place between 10 and 28 June 2021 with the participation of 24 teams (12 from Europe, 5 from South America, 2 from Africa, Asia and North America and one from Oceania).

The team will be divided into 8 groups, each with 3 teams, and the first place will qualify directly to the quarter-finals, with the knockout stages going through to the final.

In the same context, the newspaper pointed out that the main motive for this change is the receipt of FIFA offers attractive financial sponsorship of the new tournament, and this also applies to the Championship of the European Nations which will start in September, where FIFA aims with the European Union "UEFA" World Cup.

Three teams will qualify for the finals, joining South American and 3 other continental teams. The tournament will be held every two years and is expected to replace the current World Cup.