MIAMI: Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chair of the European Club Association, has thrown the body’s full support behind the FIFA Club World Cup – president Gianni Infantino’s pet project – which kicks off this weekend in the United States.

A statement from Al-Khelaïfi, who is also the president of European champions Paris Saint-Germain, said: “ECA is delighted to be in Miami this week, bringing together senior leaders from club and international football and supporting the new FIFA Club World Cup. We are long-standing partners of FIFA and, together, we are committed to driving forward a strategy that will support the growth of men’s and women’s club football globally.

“ECA has been supportive of this tournament from the beginning. We believe that the FIFA Club World Cup will become a landmark competition, and can deliver real benefits for all clubs, with an expected $250 million in solidarity for non-participating clubs. We wish president Infantino and his administration every success in the delivery of this first edition here in the United States.

“We are proud to work alongside our participating member clubs to help shape this tournament’s success and to ensuring that built-in solidarity commitments will benefit clubs across Europe and all regions to support the ongoing development of our sport.”

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