ANKARA

AS Pirae of Tahiti at the 2021 Club World Cup will replace New Zealand's Auckland City that withdrew from the tournament due to pandemic restrictions, FIFA said in a statement on Friday.

"Despite recent exchanges between FIFA, Auckland City FC, New Zealand Football and the OFC, FIFA was informed that the delayed reopening of the borders in New Zealand due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," Auckland City "had to reluctantly withdraw from the tournament," the statement said.

AS Pirae were nominated as Oceania Football Confederation's representative at the tournament along with Monterrey (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football), Chelsea (UEFA), Palmeiras (South American Football Confederation), Al Hilal SFC (Asian Football Confederation), and Al Ahly (Confederation of African Football).

The FIFA Club World Cup 2021 is set to be played in the UAE on Feb. 3-12, 2022.