Rio de Janeiro in Brazil prepares to bid for the rights to host this year's FIFA Club World Cup, according to an official of the city on Thursday.

It is now unclear what city will take over the baton from Japan, after the Japanese Football Association announced it will relinquish its hosting rights due to COVID-19 concerns.

Brazil recently eased its COVID-19 restrictions amid a fall in infection rates and fatalities caused by the virus, whereas the Japanese government decided last week to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency in many parts of the country as it hoped to suppress the latest wave of infections.

"We are starting talks so that the final of the Club World Cup can be held [here]," Rio's finance and planning secretary Pedro Paulo told Band News.

According to Paulo, should the city be granted the opportunity, the matches will likely be held at the Maracana and Olympic stadiums.

Three clubs have already qualified for this year's Club World Cup, including Al-Ahly, Chelsea and Auckland City as the champions of Africa, Europe and Oceania, respectively. The competition will also feature the winners of this year's continental club tournaments in Asia, South America and North and Central America and the Caribbean, as well as the reigning champions of the host nation's top league.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)