Sportsmail has been given details of the planned competition, which would contain new elements including:
- Endorsement by UEFA, who have indicated their willingness to lend their branding and logo to the tournament, although they would not take responsibility for running it.
- Participation to be determined via a qualification process based on domestic league position, rather than by the current system of invitation. It is hoped this change would increase its prestige.
- An eight-year agreement for an annual event which would initially be held in the United States but could be staged in Asia in subsequent years.
- A group format with pools of three teams followed by a knockout stage.
- A commitment by all competing clubs to field their first-choice squads where possible.
- A 2021 start date, with Relevent Sports to provide funding for the initial competition in the anticipation of securing lucrative broadcast deals, which would make it profitable.
- The possibility of expansion to include teams from South America. That development became more likely when UEFA signed a memorandum of understanding with South American confederation Conmebol pledging greater co-operation last month.
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