FIFA has announced that the next edition of the Club World Cup will now be staged in the United Arab Emirates early next year.
Chelsea are one of 10 teams who will eventually compete in the tournament which features the champions of each continental competition among its participants.
However, the Blues and the Premier League had previously envisaged their appearance coming in December until Japan pulled out of hosting the tournament.
While no specific dates have been revealed, the West Londoners can expect to be travelling to the Middle East during the early weeks of 2022.
Although Chelsea's Premier League encounter at Wolverhampton Wanderers should go ahead as planned on the weekend of December 18 and 19, they face the possibility of disruption in the following month.
As it stands, just three top-flight games are scheduled, but there is also the potential of two FA Cups ties and an EFL Cup semi-final.
Darren Plant
