FIFA Considers Expanding Club World Cup To Biennial Format Starting In 2029

‎FIFA is weighing the option of hosting the Club World Cup biennially starting in 2029, a plan that could intensify strain on the international schedule and provoke further opposition from the Premier League and UEFA.

‎The upcoming Club World Cup is slated for four years from now, after this summer’s inaugural 32-team edition hosted in the United States.

‎Yet FIFA faces pressure from top clubs to make the event biennial. Real Madrid reportedly raised the possibility of a two-year cycle in discussions with FIFA in Miami in June.

‎A plan that has won backing from other clubs that missed out this year’s tournament, such as Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Napoli.

‎Chelsea received £85m in prize money for winning the competition, and other big European clubs want the opportunity to take advantage of FIFA’s huge revenue streams, which are being funded largely by Saudi Arabia’s Surj Sports Investments.

‎Liverpool were especially unlucky not to participate this year. They qualified by ranking among the top eight clubs in Europe, but FIFA limited entries to two clubs per country, and Chelsea and Manchester City filled those English slots as the latest Champions League winners.

‎There is an exception to the two-club limit if more than two clubs from a country win their continental competition during the qualifying period, which happened with Brazil this year.

‎FIFA plans to introduce the format

‎FIFA sources said that while there is no serious consideration being given to staging the Club World Cup in 2027, the situation is likely to change after 2029, with the prospect of another tournament being held in 2031 to be explored.

‎FIFA is limited for now because the international match calendar runs through 2030, leaving only the 2029 Club World Cup on the schedule. This arrangement stems from the memorandum of understanding between FIFA and the European Club Association signed two years ago.

‎FIFA is already facing legal action from World Leagues, an international lobby group that includes the Premier League, and there is little appetite to inflame the dispute by changing the current schedule.

‎World Leagues has filed a complaint with the European Commission, backed by the global players’ union Fifpro. The group accuses FIFA of “abuse of dominance” for allegedly failing to consult them about the Club World Cup schedule.

‎Staging the new competition every two years would increase tensions still further, but there is an acknowledgement on both sides that the entire global calendar after 2030 is open for negotiation.

‎FIFA sacrifices and UEFA obstacles

‎Sources suggest that, in exchange for expanding into club soccer, FIFA may be willing to drop the June international break to reduce player workloads and clear the calendar for events like the Club World Cup.

‎However, this would face opposition from UEFA, which relies on summer dates to host the finals of its Nations League.

‎In a pre-season address last week the Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, outlined his concerns with expanding the Club World Cup, although the biggest top-flight clubs appear to disagree.

‎“FIFA was put on earth really to regulate the global game and to run international football, and the Club World Cup is a move into club football,” Masters said.

‎“The leagues and the players have not been consulted at all on the timing and scheduling of the competition, and I think whatever iteration of it may come next, we do need to be consulted on that.

‎“Obviously, it does have an impact on the scheduling of the Premier League season, that much is clear. We’re asking for a seat at the table, a proper discussion for the leagues.”

‎FIFA is reviewing the qualification criteria for the 2029 Club World Cup and is considering raising the two-club-per-country cap. It is also evaluating whether to expand the field from 32 to 48 teams.

‎With the men’s World Cup next year and the 2031 Women’s World Cup both expanding to 48 teams, extending the Club World Cup would align with FIFA’s broader tournament model.

‎This year, FIFA awarded hosting rights to the United States without a formal bidding process, but the federation now plans to introduce a formal tender for future tournaments.

‎Countries including Qatar, Spain, and Morocco have already expressed interest in hosting the 2029 Club World Cup.

‎Details of the bidding process are expected to be announced later this year.