A FIFA official announces that Hangzhou, along with seven other Chinese cities, will host the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup at a news conference on Dec 28. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Hangzhou, along with seven other Chinese cities, will host the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, according to an announcement by the Chinese Football Association on Dec 28.

The seven other cities include Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Shenyang, Jinan, and Dalian. These cities were selected following an assessment by FIFA and the Chinese Football Association.

Hangzhou will also host the Asian Games in 2022.

According to a news release at a press conference held by FIFA on Oct 24, the 2021 Club World Cup will be held in China from June to July 2021 and involve 24 teams to compete in 32 matches. 

The event, which was launched in the year 2000, is an international soccer tournament for top soccer clubs across six continents.

Starting in 2021, the event will be held once every four years rather than every year, similar to the World Cup. 

A FIFA research delegation said Hangzhou was selected due to high-quality facilities, stadium, and accommodation, as well as its convenient transportation.

Hangzhou residents are now gearing up to welcome some of the world's biggest soccer stars, including Messi and Ronaldo, to their city.

An aerial view of the Hangzhou Olympic Sport Center, which will host the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]