FIFA have officially confirmed that the 2021 Club World Cup will take place in the United Arab Emriates, ending the hopes of local fans that South Africa might host the tournament.
SAFA recently stated that they decided not host the tournament due to issues in reaching the needed 70 percent vaccination threshold.
However, some fans still had hope that the decision might be reversed after South Africa was recently removed from UK’s red-listed countries and some fans returned to the stadium in Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 win over Ethiopia.
The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in Japan, but the Asian nation withdrew their interest due to challenges relating to COVID-19.
FIFA, though, now confirmed that the tournament will take place in the United Arab Emirates once more, with president Gianni Infantino also stating that the Club World Cup has been moved to 2022.
“It was decided that the Club World Cup 2021 will be played in early 2022, the exact dates are still to be confirmed, but the hosts after the withdrawal of Japan because of the pandemic, the host will be the United Arab Emirates, the UAE, who have hosted this event already a few times as you know,” he stated on Wednesday.
So far, Chelsea as well as Al Ahly and New Zealand’s Auckland City have qualified for the tournament.
In addition, Thulani Serero’s side Al Jazira will now also take part as hosts, which could mean a potential meeting between Pitso Mosimane and the former Bafana Bafana midfielder.
