DOHA: Bayern Munich midfielder Thomas Müller has tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the Club World Cup final, FIFA said Thursday.
FIFA said Müller has been placed in isolation and will be ineligible for the final against Mexican club Tigres.
Müller played 62 minutes in Bayern’s 2-0 win over Al Ahly in the semifinals on Monday.
FIFA and Qatari organizers have said they put strict anti-virus measures in place for the tournament, which is one of the few major football events taking place with spectators amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Müller is the third Bayern player to miss the final for coronavirus-related reasons. Midfielders Leon Goretzka and Javi Martinez both stayed in Germany instead of traveling to Qatar for the tournament following positive tests and are in training at the club’s base.
Oceania representative Auckland City withdrew from the Club World Cup before it began because it would have faced tough quarantine rules when returning home to New Zealand after the event.
Bayern midfielder Müller out of Club World Cup with virus
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Bayern midfielder Müller out of Club World Cup with virus
MESIF 2026 lands in Riyadh, driving future of sports investment
- Senior sports leaders to gather in capital as 2-day Middle East Sports Investment Forum focuses on performance, football, long-term sporting legacy
RIYADH: Riyadh will host the Middle East Sports Investment Forum on Jan. 27-28, bringing together senior decision-makers from across football, major events, infrastructure, media and investment as the region sharpens its focus on high-performance sport and long-term legacy.
The forum will examine how the Middle East’s rapidly expanding sports sector is shifting from headline events to sustainable systems, with discussions set to cover elite facilities, athlete pathways, commercial growth and fan engagement.
Confirmed speakers include Abdullah Al-Rasheed, director of investment enablement at the Saudi Ministry of Sport; Hani Ballan, CEO of the Qatar Stars League; Nader Nasser Hamood Al-Rawahy, operations excellence lead at Oman Vision 2040; Nasser Al‑Khori, executive director of the Generation Amazing Foundation; Haya Sawan, managing partner at Motion Academy; and Marwan Albazie, deputy CEO of the Islamic Solidarity Games Local Organizing Committee.
These leaders bring expertise in government policy, league development, social impact, and investment strategy, offering insights into both the commercial and societal potential of sport across the Middle East.
Football is expected to feature prominently, with a dedicated session on the future of the game in the region exploring performance, engagement and commercial strategy as Saudi Arabia continues to build its global sporting profile.
Infrastructure and major events will also be in focus, as industry leaders assess how world-class venues and international competitions can drive economic impact while supporting athlete development and community participation.
The forum concludes with a tour of Kingdom Arena, underlining Riyadh’s ambition to position its venues as year-round performance hubs rather than event-only destinations.
