ZURICH: A summer tournament every four years with 24 teams is one of the options reportedly under consideration by world federation to replace the unsuccessful Club World Cup.

Sources close to the Spanish and Italian leagues, who have been consulted informally, suggest the tournament could be played in the second half of June every four years.

This would not only replace the Club World Cup, which draws minimal attention in the TV-cash-rich European market, but also the Confederations Cup.

Currently the Confederations Cup is a dry run for the FIFA World Cup, staged in the host nation a year ahead of the main event. However the complications arising from switching the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar in November and December have virtually ruled out a Confed Cup option.

FIFA is growing increasingly desperate to fund new sponsor vehicles to be able to fulfil president Gianni Infantino’s promise of significantly increased annual handouts to the national associations and confederations.

In principle, there would be 12 European clubs, five South American, two African, two Asian and two North American with an Oceania club being possibly offered an intercontinental playoff option.

The 12 European clubs would be the four preceding winners of the Champions League, the four preceding finalists and the four others with the best UEFA coefficient.

###########