JAPAN have pulled out of hosting the Club World Cup in December as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in the country.
The tournament, which will feature Chelsea, was set to take place in December but faces being relocated due to Japan’s Covid-19 restrictions.
Fifa said the Japanese Football Association (JFA) told them on Thursday that “it is no longer in a position” to host the competition.
The annual tournament features the champions of the different continents, with The Blues qualifying this year as Champions League winners.
Football’s governing body said in a statement: “Fifa would like to thank the JFA for their work and commitment and looks forward to going back to Japan in the future.
“Further details about an alternative host for the Fifa Club World Cup 2021 will be announced by Fifa in due course.”
Having hosted both the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, Japan is under a state of emergency and currently grappling with its worst ever Covid wave.
The 2021 event was set to be its ninth time held in Japan and would have coincided with the JFA’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
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Bayern Munich won the 2020 Club World Cup, hosted by Qatar in February 2021 after it was postponed due to the pandemic.
But Chelsea are due to take part this year after Kai Havertz sunk Premier League kings Manchester City 1-0 in last season’s Champions League final.
Thomas Tuchel’s side then beat Villarreal in a shootout to lift the Super Cup last month.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
