Bernice Larryoboh
Chelsea is set to make £50 million after FIFA confirmed their qualification for the first expanded version of the Club World Cup.
FIFA at a meeting in Rwanda agreed on the qualification format for the 32-team tournament.
According to FIFA, the tournament will start in 2025 with China as the likely host.
Europe has been given the largest share with 12 slots in the expanded version of the Club World Cup.
FIFA’s ruling Council agreed that qualification would run over the four-year cycle from the 2020-21 to 2023-24 seasons.
It means the four Champions League winners over those seasons, plus the next eight leading sides on Uefa’s four-year coefficient rankings system, will earn berths for the money-laden new competition.
Chelsea’s 2021 Final win over Manchester City means they are now guaranteed a spot, alongside Real Madrid.
They will be joined by the next two winners of Europe’s biggest prize.
No country can have more than two places through the coefficient table according to FIFA. Although as it stands Liverpool and Manchester City would qualify.
However, if Liverpool miss out on a European spot for next season, that would open the door for Manchester United to replace them by reaching the knock-out stage of the Champions League.
FIFA is also revamping its current smaller version of the Club World Cup. It will continue to be played annually but rebranded and with the Champions League winner automatically through to the Final.
