FIFA Club World Cup postponed due to COVID-19; new date announced

The 2020 FIFA Club World Cup originally scheduled for December has been pushed forward to February 2021 as a precaution to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Africa’s representatives will be decided when the CAF Champions League final is played on 27 November between the Egyptian duo of Zamalek and Al Ahly slog it out in the CAF’s first-ever all-Egyptian final at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt.

The postponement also means European representatives, Bayern Munich, who have won all contested competitions in 2020 including the UEFA Champions League in August have missed the chance to become the second team in history to win six competitions in a calendar year, after Barcelona in 2009.

Qatar will maintain its status as host nation when the tournament takes place between 1-11 February 2021.

“The Club World Cup Qatar 2020 has been subject to the disruptive effect on the confederations’ continental club championships,” said FIFA.

“The introduction of strict return-to-play protocols have facilitated a successful resumption of continental club championships, the last of which is now scheduled to conclude by the end of January 2021.”

In another development, FIFA has cancelled the 2020 edition of the Women’s U20 and U17 World Cups initially slated for 2021.

Host nations Costa Rica (U20) and India (U20) will now host the next edition of the respective competitions in 2022.

The last edition of the finals was won by English side Liverpool who defeated Brazil’s Flamengo in the final in Qatar.