Liverpool ‘taken by surprise’ over Club World Cup decision
Liverpool have been “surprised” by FIFA’s decision to enter them into the Club World Cup after their Champions League triumph, according to Daily Mail journalist Dominic King.
The ruling council of football’s world governing body FIFA met in Paris on Monday and approved the plan to stage the next two editions of the tournament in the Gulf state.
With Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup in November and December that year, it represents the perfect chance for organisers to test their new stadiums in 2019 and 2020 at the same time of year.
Beyond that, FIFA wants to scrap the Club World Cup’s current format and replace it with a 24-team tournament, held every fourth summer in the current Confederations Cup slot.
It had been reported in some quarters that FIFA was not going to bother with the Club World Cup before relaunching it in 2021 but that was never the case.
However, FIFA have not made contact with Liverpool since the announcement was made and King claims the Reds have been “surprised” by their entry into the competition.
“The news that Liverpool have been entered into the Club World Cup has taken them by surprise,” King tweeted.
“FIFA have not been in contact since making their announcement and, as yet, no dates have been confirmed other than it will be December in Qatar.”
The news that Liverpool have been entered into the Club World Cup has taken them by surprise. FIFA have not been in contact since making their announcement and, as yet, no dates have been confirmed other than it will be December in Qatar.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) June 3, 2019
