Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: After a two-year hiatus, the FIFA Club World Cup will return to Japan for its 2015 and 2016 editions, the world governing body has announced.
The event will feature the club champions of all six confederations (the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, the OFC and UEFA) as well as Japan’s domestic champions.
After being hosted by Morocco in 2013 and 2014, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke believes the experience of the Japan Football Association (JFA) in organising a number of major football tournaments will go a long way to ensuring further success for the FIFA Club World Cup.
“This (Japan) is a country with a proven track record when it comes to staging FIFA events, including six editions of the FIFA Club World Cup, which were all successful. We know it will be a superb setting once again for this annual competition with good-sized crowds and a wonderful atmosphere. The popularity and profile of the competition continues to build each year and this is sure to continue with the huge support shown within Japan,” he said.
JFA President Kuniya Daini says the competition is important for Japan both in terms of development and the entertainment factor.
The first FIFA Club World Cup was held in 2000 in Brazil. It has been an annual event since 2005, with Japan playing host in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012.
Photo: AFP