FIFA have now confirmed the location - and the time - the latest installment of the Club World Cup will be taking place.
Initially, the annual event was supposed to be held in Japan, who've served as hosts on eight prior occasions, including four in a row from 2005 to 2008. However, Japan, citing concerns about financial losses due to COVID-19, decided to withdraw as hosts.
The event was also supposed to take place at the end of this year, but now FIFA have also changed that as well.
As such, the competition will take place in early February 2022, with the tentative dates of February 4th through the 12th being penciled in on the calendar.
The new hosts will be the United Arab Emirates, who like Japan, are no strangers to this event. The Middle Eastern nation have held the competition in their country four times, with the most recent taking place in 2018.
This means that Chelsea's fixture list could get a bit more tricky, especially as the Blues are competing on multiple fronts this season, and February is set to be a very busy month for the London powerhouse.
The reigning UEFA Champions League winners will be joined by New Zealand's Auckland City, plus Al Ahly, winners of the CAF Champions League, and and UAE side Al Jazira, who won 2020–21 UAE Pro League.
There are still a few other teams needed to be confirmed, including the winners of the AFC and CONCACAF Champions League, plus South America's champions.
