China, looking for more football influence, will host the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup with a new 24-team system, FIFA president Jane Infantino said Thursday, referring to a "historic decision".

The decision was announced after the general assembly of the International Federation in Shanghai, where members chose the Asian city "unanimously," according to Infantino.

The move underscores the growing growth of football in China, which wants to host the World Cup for the first time.

The trial version will be held between June 17 and July 4, 2021, bringing together eight European clubs (at a time when the EU and UEFA wanted to raise the number to 12) and six clubs from South America. Africa, Asia and CONCACAF have three clubs each, with Oceania represented by a single team.

"This is a historic decision in football," Infantino said.

China, the world's second largest economy after the United States, became increasingly influential in football under President Xi Jinping, who is known for his passion for the game.

Xi and his communist government have made the sport a national priority, and his stated goal is for the superpower, with a population of 1.4 billion, to host the World Cup and win the title. The option to host the 2030 World Cup has long been on the horizon.

Mark Dreyer, a sports industry expert based in China, said the country has proved successful in hosting major sporting events, such as the 2008 Olympics, and the World Cup is its ultimate goal.

However, the founder of China Sports Insider added: "I am worried from China's point of view whether other candidate files (for the 2030 version) will use this (hosting the World Cup) against China to say that FIFA has rewarded the country for its financial support, so let's give the World Cup to another country." .

The FIFA president said in June that the tournament, with its new system, could generate $ 50 million in business income, while observers questioned the reliability of the figures.

Asked about China's human rights record and self-censorship of those coming to China after the recent NBA crisis, Infantino warned against a tweet by the Houston Rockets general in support of protests in Hong Kong against Chinese domination.

"Everyone can say what they want," he said. "As far as we are concerned, we are trying to use football as a positive catalyst, and never negative."

- European opposition -

The Association of European Clubs has confirmed that it will not participate in the World Cup clubs if the number of participants to 24 as of 2021. The association, which represents 232 European clubs and chaired by Italian Andrea Agnelli, president of Juventus in a letter to Infantino " ".

In March, the Fifa Council in Miami decided to expand the tournament to 24 teams from 2021 instead of seven in its current format.

The UAE hosted the tournament in 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018 and Morocco in 2013 and 2014, while Japan received it between 2005 and 2008 and in 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016.

Real Madrid won the last three titles as European champions and last at the expense of Al Ain 4-1.

FIFA will double its funding for women's football to $ 1 billion over the next four years. "The council has decided to add $ 500 million in addition to the $ 500 million already budgeted," Infantino said.