FIFA Club World Cup to be held in Qatar in February

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) MANCHESTER, England -  The FIFA Club World Cup, originally planned for December, will now be held from Feb. 1 to Feb. 11 in Doha, Qatar, organisers FIFA said on Tuesday.

The tournament brings together the six continental champions from across the world, with European Champions League winners Bayern Munich the first to have qualified.

Last season's tournament ended with Liverpool beating Brazilian club Flamengo in the final.

'The FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020, which was originally scheduled for December, has been subject to the disruptive effect of the pandemic on the confederations' continental club championships that serve as a pathway for the event. The introduction of strict return-to-play protocols has facilitated a successful resumption of continental club championships the last of which is now scheduled to conclude by the end of January 2021.

'As a result, the FIFA Club World Cup 2020 will now be held from 1 to 11 February 2021, taking place in Qatar as per the original host appointment by the FIFA Council in June 2019. 

'In line with FIFA's International Match Protocol, FIFA and the host country will provide the required safeguards for the health and safety of all involved, FIFA said in a statement.

A new expanded 24-team Club World Cup was due to be held in June/July 2021 in China but coronavirus-related delays to Euro 2020 and the Copa America, which will be held a year late, have led to the postponement of that plan.

FIFA also opted against moving two postponed women's age-group tournaments to 2021 and instead will allow the planned hosts to hold those tournaments in 2022.

Costa Rica will host the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and India the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

MENAFN17112020000063011010ID1101141141