FIFA has proposed opening an extra transfer window in June next year ahead of the first edition of its expanded Club World Cup in the United States, world football’s governing body announced on Thursday.
The extra window, which is in addition to those in January and over the European summer, would allow teams taking part in the Club World Cup to strengthen their squads before the tournament, which will run from June 15 to July 13 next year.
With June 30 the traditional date on which contracts expire, FIFA will also allow clubs to replace a limited number of players during a brief window within the competition, from June 27 to July 3.
Furthermore, FIFA is seeking to anticipate any potential conflicts related to the calendar due to the Club World Cup clashing with international tournaments.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is due to be played at the same time in Canada and the USA, and so any player who could be involved in both tournaments will have the freedom to choose which one he wishes to play in.
