FIFA has informed continental football confederations that the next Club World Cup will take place in the summer of 2029, a move that appears to scupper Qatar’s bid to host the tournament.
In another significant development, FIFA has told the continental confederations that the number of participating teams in the next Club World Cup is likely to exceed the 32 that competed in the United States this summer.
FIFA is facing pressure from major clubs to expand the Club World Cup to 48 teams.
FIFA’s lobbying efforts have intensified since last month’s Club World Cup, which saw champions Chelsea receive £85 million from a £750 million prize money and participation fund.
Although FIFA has indicated that the 2029 Club World Cup may see an expansion, it remains uncertain whether the 48-team format, set to be used for the first time at next year’s men’s World Cup, can be implemented immediately.
FIFA is considering an alternative plan for the 2029 Club World Cup, which would be based on a series of qualification matches held one week before the start of the official tournament, with winners progressing to the main event.
After Mexican club León was disqualified for violating multi-club ownership rules, a separate playoff was held between Los Angeles Football Club and Mexican side Club América to determine the final CONCACAF representative in the Club World Cup.
A series of knockout matches could generate additional attention ahead of the tournament and at the end of the European season, as well as boost the value of its TV broadcasting rights.
FIFA’s notification that the 2029 Club World Cup will be held in the summer could help improve relations with European leagues, amid previous concerns that the tournament might be shifted to the following winter if Qatar had won the hosting rights.
Senior Qatari officials held talks with FIFA in Miami in June this year about bidding for the Club World Cup, but the confirmation of the schedule is likely to deter them.
Spain and Morocco are currently the leading candidates to host the event, having been set to co-host the 2030 men’s World Cup. Portugal, as the third co-host, has not expressed much interest so far, but its smaller stadiums are suitable for hosting qualifiers.
FIFA may eventually switch to holding the Club World Cup every two years, as it seems determined to challenge UEFA’s historical control over international club competitions. However, this will not be put on the agenda until the current international match calendar expires in 2030.
