Club World Cup, next edition in 2029. Qatar option up in the air.

The next edition of the Club World Cup will be held in the summer of 2029. FIFA has reportedly communicated this to the continental confederations. This decision would effectively scuttle Qatar's bid . This was revealed in an exclusive report by the Guardian , according to which the organization is considering expanding the tournament beyond the 32 clubs competing in the United States this year . Preliminary playoffs , which could generate new revenue, are under discussion, while the debate over TV rights, player welfare, and the future international calendar, already criticized by athletes, coaches, and industry insiders for its overcrowding, remains ongoing.

The decision to hold the tournament in the summer could nip Qatar's bid to host the competition in the winter in the bud. According to the English newspaper, talks between Doha officials and FIFA were held in Miami last June, but the announced timing drastically reduces their chances of success. The move is also aimed at mending relations with European leagues, which are opposed to a further shift in the calendar .

The 2025 Club World Cup in the United States featured 32 teams, with champions Chelsea taking home £85 million from the £750 million prize pool. After that tournament, pressure from clubs and investors intensified for an expansion to 48 teams . FIFA, the Guardian reports, considers an expansion likely for 2029, but it's uncertain whether the 48-team format will be adopted immediately , similar to the World Cup for national teams, which will adopt this format as early as 2026.

A testing ground was the one-off playoff between Los Angeles FC and Club América to decide the last spot in Concacaf, which came about after León was excluded for timeshare violations involving the other participating club, Pachuca. The experiment, deemed a success, could become a stable format: a series of knockout play-offs immediately before the start of the tournament . This would guarantee entertainment and new TV rights, already valued at £750 million for the last edition thanks to DAZN and the support of Surj Sports Investment , a Saudi fund.

A full expansion from 32 to 48 clubs would mean a drop from 64 to 104 matches , with significant impacts on schedules and the health of players. For this reason, FIFA is considering playoffs as a compromise. However, disputes remain: the European Leagues group and the global players' union FIFPro have already filed a legal complaint, while the European Commission is considering a formal investigation .