FIFA Considers Expanding Club World Cup to 48 Teams by 2029 Amid Calls for Biennial Format
According to The Guardian, FIFA is actively exploring the possibility of expanding the FIFA Club World Cup to 48 teams by 2029, while several major clubs are pushing for the tournament to be staged more frequently.
During high-level discussions in Miami involving FIFA, top clubs, and continental confederations, Real Madrid reportedly proposed a radical shift — holding the tournament every two years. The Spanish giants have good reason to be vocal: they enjoyed the largest commercial success at the most recent edition, with 25% of total ticket sales attributed to their global fanbase.
Despite Madrid’s lobbying, FIFA is not currently inclined to greenlight a biennial format. Even president Gianni Infantino acknowledged that such a move might be "excessive." However, internal talks around a 48-team expansion remain ongoing, signaling that the future of the competition is far from settled.
Infantino also revealed a wish list of elite European clubs he hopes to see at future tournaments, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, Napoli, and AC Milan. It’s no secret that European sides continue to generate the lion’s share of revenue for FIFA — a fact not lost on stakeholders keen to maximize global reach and profitability.
As per The Guardian, Qatar has already submitted a bid to host the 2029 edition, though FIFA is reportedly leaning toward a joint bid from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal — the trio slated to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. However, internal disagreements may complicate matters: Morocco and Spain are said to prefer a solo bid, while Portugal has yet to declare any concrete interest.
The inaugural 32-team Club World Cup 2025 has already shown the tournament’s commercial potential. It has generated an estimated $2.1 billion in revenue, with ticket sales at 2.5 million and an average attendance of 40,000 fans per match.
