{"id":359,"date":"2019-10-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gbc.ng\/insidersport-on-the-ball-china-to-host-2021-fifa-club-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2019-10-25T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-10-25T00:00:00","slug":"insidersport-on-the-ball-china-to-host-2021-fifa-club-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gbc.ng\/index.php\/insidersport-on-the-ball-china-to-host-2021-fifa-club-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"INSIDERSPORT: ON THE BALL \u2013 CHINA TO HOST 2021 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP"},"content":{"rendered":"

From sponsorship to the ever-expanding world of football media coverage, when it comes to the business of football, InsiderSport has you covered.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This week\u2019s OTB reports on the latest MLS expansion franchise, FIFA\u2019s Club World Cup announcement and Amazon\u2019s latest fly-on-the-wall documentary featuring Tottenham Hotspur.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

FIFA awards hosting rights of the 2021 Club World Cup to China<\/u><\/p>\n

China PR has been confirmed by FIFA as the hosts of the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup following a vote by the\u00a0FIFA Council<\/strong>\u00a0in Shanghai.<\/p>\n

The future format of the tournament remains relatively uncertain, this edition of the competition penned in as the first of the tournament\u2019s new era, after consultations and considerations be finalised between FIFA and the six confederations<\/p>\n

Specific stadia and venues for the tournament, which will take place in June and July of 2021, are yet to be decided by FIFA and the Chinese FA.<\/p>\n

World football\u2019s governing body also confirmed it would invest $1bn in women\u2019s football over the course of the 2019-2022 cycle, as a result of an agreement on extra dedicated funding in the amount of USD 500 million.<\/p>\n

This amount will be taken from FIFA\u2019s reserves as an addition to the $500m already approved by the FIFA Congress to be invested in women\u2019s football as per the budget of the current four-year cycle.<\/p>\n

Bidding to host the\u00a0FIFA World Cup 2030<\/strong>\u00a0is highly competitive, with the UK joining the Spain and Portugal in competition for the tournament, as well as a sentimental bid from a South Americanm coalition of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile.<\/p>\n

Issuing this update, FIFA revealed that it will hold voting for where the tournament will be hosted in 2024, the tournament will follow on from the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in The USA, Canada and Mexico.<\/p>\n

The next time world football\u2019s governing embarks upon an integral vote, it will be to decide the home of the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup, hoping to build on the significant growth of the game and its increased engagement at the France 2019 tournament, a total of eight countries are aiming to host in 2023.<\/p>\n

The countries that have outlined ambitions of hosting the tournament are, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea.<\/p>\n

MLS unveils Sacramento as the home of the 29th expansion franchise<\/u><\/p>\n

Sacramento\u2019s United Soccer League (USL) team, Sacramento Republic FC, has been unveiled by Major League Soccer (MLS) as the league\u2019s 29th expansion franchise.<\/p>\n

As part of the side\u2019s expansion into the league, the Republic will pay a $200 million expansion fee to join in 2022 \u2013 a figure which the Sacramento Bee has reported is part of a $500m to $600m investment that owner Ron Burkle is expected to bring to the club.<\/p>\n

Burkle commented on the news: \u201cSacramento\u2019s selection by Major League Soccer for an expansion team is a victory to be celebrated by everyone in our community. This has been a true team effort between the amazing soccer fans of the Sacramento region along with Mayor Steinberg and City Council, our partners and corporate leaders. The relationship between Sacramento and our club already is a special one, and I\u2019m committed to deepening that connection for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

The announcement of the expansion slot ends the city\u2019s long wait to enter the MLS as Sacramento has been attempting to secure an expansion into the league since 2015.<\/p>\n

MLS commissioner, Don Garber added: \u201cMajor League Soccer continues to grow throughout North America and we are so proud to welcome Sacramento as our newest team. For many years, soccer fans in Sacramento have passionately supported Republic FC and shown that the club deserves to be competing at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n

The club\u2019s most recent attempt to secure an expansion saw them overlooked in 2017 due to financial concerns, however, since then it has received the financial backing of Burkle, who is part-owner of the National Hockey League\u2019s (NHL) Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as Matt Alvarez, which has seemingly put an end to any concerns surrounding the clubs funding.<\/p>\n

Tottenham Hotspur set to be the focus of Amazon\u2019s latest \u2018All or Nothing\u2019 docuseries<\/u><\/p>\n

Amazon has confirmed that the latest edition of its \u2018All or Nothing\u2019 docuseries will focus on English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.<\/p>\n

The episodic series will offer viewers behind-the-scenes access throughout the club\u2019s 2019\/20 season and will grant a unique insight into the daily workings of a football club by following the team inside its training facilities, its new stadium in North London, as well as away from the field of play.<\/p>\n

Aidan Mullally, Tottenham Hotspur\u2019s Head of Business Development, commented on the announcement: \u201cThis is an exciting time to be a part of our football club and Amazon will be joining us on this journey during the current season. From showcasing the emotions we experience in the lead up to and at every game, to the efforts we are making to drive real change in our home of Tottenham, to our key partnership with the NFL, we are excited to share our unique story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regarding the series\u2019 off pitch insight, viewers will be guided through some of the club\u2019s unique focuses which include its extensive work in helping to transform the local area. Moreover, the docuseries will also showcase the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and its ground-breaking multi-use functionality which allows for the hosting of Premier League fixtures as well as other major sporting events such as NFL London.<\/p>\n

Georgia Brown, Director of European Originals at Amazon Studios, added: \u201cWe are delighted to be embarking on this journey with Tottenham Hotspur and delivering another extraordinary look at one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League. All or Nothing has become a franchise defined by true quality and unprecedented access, and that will be no different with this series. We can\u2019t wait for Prime members worldwide to again experience the highs and lows of a world-class team in the greatest football league on earth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The North London side joins a plethora of clubs that have taken part in a fly-on-the-wall documentary series, joining the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Leeds United and Manchester City on Amazon as well as Sunderland AFC on Netflix.<\/p>\n

2023 Women\u2019s World Cup set for bonus increase<\/u><\/p>\n

FIFA is reportedly set to increase the bonus payments given to players at the next Women\u2019s World Cup in 2023.<\/p>\n

The move comes after FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised to increase the originally-planned prize fund for the tournament, with it being raised from this year\u2019s total of $15m to up to $60m along with the size of the tournament itself increasing from 24 teams to 32.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Football\u2019s governing body is also considering creating a women\u2019s World League, similar to UEFA\u2019s Nations League, as well as a Women\u2019s Club World Cup.<\/p>\n

FIFA is also set to confirm previously announced plans later on this week, when it is expected to officially unveil funding of $1bn for women\u2019s football over the next four years, which the organisation is set to fund itself with Infantino stating: \u201cWe don\u2019t need all this money in the Swiss banks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moreover, the meeting which is taking place in Shanghai, will also see FIFA confirm the host of the expanded 24-team\u00a02021 Club World Cup, with China seemingly being the only country under consideration.<\/p>\n

Eight candidates are reportedly competing to become the hosts of the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup \u2013 Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, and a potential joint bid from North and South Korea.<\/p>\n

Bidding and hosting documents have now been sent out to the eight federations, with FIFA requiring their final bids by 13 December.<\/p>\n

The candidates will then move on to an evaluation phase set to take place in January and February 2020 before a FIFA Council vote decides the host by May \u2013 giving the winning nation three years to prepare for the expanded tournament.<\/p>\n

Italian Football Federation extends its partnership with Rai<\/u><\/p>\n

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has extended its partnership with Rai, Italy\u2019s public service broadcaster, until the 2022 Qatar World Cup.<\/p>\n

As part of the agreement, friendly matches involving the Italian women\u2019s team, youth team and senior team will continue to be broadcast on the platform.<\/p>\n

Rai CEO Fabrizio Salini praised the \u2018lasting bond\u2019 between the pair, adding: \u201cIn these 90 years the story of the National Team has been linked with that of Rai through the values of loyalty and inclusion. The blue shirt of the National Team is also the shirt of Rai. We are really pleased and proud to have brought the women\u2019s National Team to Rai 1, it was a natural and obligatory choice. This choice is the result of our reasoning: the women\u2019s National Team deserved this stage. We have defeated the prejudices.\u201d<\/p>\n

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina underlined: \u201cRai is the home of the national teams. Today we are in our home. I must thank Rai and its staff, who follow us on every trip. We represent an important duo which has been able to been able to narrate the history, the periods of changes, even the disappointments of our country, but always with the strength of enthusiasm. And the numbers show it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cWhen it comes to our sport, there\u2019s not just a sporting aspect, there\u2019s also a need to highlight the social dimension. This has been done successfully: we\u2019ve been able to share new stories while looking at the social side of things. I need to thank Rai for how much it\u2019s invested in women\u2019s football, a phenomenon that has come about in no time at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the heartbreak of Russia 2018, which saw Italy miss out on their first World Cup since 1958, the Azzurri has enjoyed a strong period already booking a place at the European Championships in 2020. The extension also aims to build on the continued and substantial growth of engagement within women\u2019s football in Italy.<\/p>\n

Highlighting how the public service broadcaster is integral to the consumption of football in Italy, national team manager, Roberto Mancini added: \u201cRai was very much part of my youth and I believe that this pairing is perfect. I\u2019m very happy, I hope the agreement continues for many years. It\u2019s pleasing that the Italian public and fans are really taking to the team, we\u2019re improving a lot. We want as many people to tune in as the amount that followed Italy vs. Argentina in 1990, when I was on the bench. That\u2019d mean that we\u2019d done really well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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