As the dust settles on the recent FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, which saw Chelsea emerge victorious over PSG in a fittingly grand final at MetLife Stadium, football enthusiasts are already casting their gaze further into the future. While the anticipation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico builds, attention is quietly beginning to turn towards the subsequent major global club tournament – the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029.
Building on the 2025 Blueprint
The 2025 edition established a new benchmark for the tournament`s scale, featuring a significantly expanded format with 32 teams participating. As of now, this 32-team structure remains the official plan for the 2029 iteration. FIFA has yet to formally announce any deviations from this setup.
The Persistent Whisper: 48 Teams?
However, in the ever-evolving landscape of global football, proposals for further expansion are never far away. Reports indicate that several prominent European clubs, in particular, have been advocating for the 2029 tournament to mirror the national team World Cup format, pushing for an increase to 48 participants. The rationale is clear, if somewhat predictable: a larger tournament translates to potentially greater interest, increased global visibility, and, perhaps most importantly for the clubs involved, a bigger slice of the financial pie – a considerable incentive given the prize money implications.
The Early Birds: First Qualifiers for 2029
Despite the tournament being several years away, the qualification process for some clubs has already concluded, based on their success in the 2024-25 continental club seasons. While the champions of the 2025 edition, Chelsea, will carry their title badge with pride, their place in the 2029 tournament is not automatically secured. Instead, several continental champions from the qualifying season have booked their tickets early. Securing a spot four years in advance certainly provides ample time for squad planning, or perhaps just an extended period of bragging rights.
Here are the teams that have already punched their tickets for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup:
- PSG (France): Winners of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.
- Pyramids FC (Egypt): Winners of the 2024-25 CAF Champions League.
- Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia): Winners of the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite.
- Cruz Azul (Mexico): Winners of the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
This initial list already showcases the tournament`s global reach, with representatives from Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America securing their participation well in advance.
The Hosting Race: Where Will the World Meet in 2029?
Another key element yet to be finalized is the host nation, or nations, for the 2029 spectacle. While no official decision has been made, several countries have publicly expressed their interest in staging the event. Potential bidders span continents and vary in their hosting experience and implications:
- Traditional footballing nations like Brazil have thrown their hat into the ring.
- Australia represents another potential host, offering a different time zone and a growing football market.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated openness to the United States hosting again, leveraging its infrastructure and recent major event experience (including the 2025 CWC and the upcoming 2026 World Cup).
- A joint bid from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal is also a possibility, perhaps building on their likely hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, suggesting ready infrastructure and logistical familiarity.
- Qatar has also signaled interest. While a potential host, their bid raises familiar questions about scheduling, potentially forcing the tournament into the late autumn/winter months to avoid extreme summer heat, as was the case with the 2022 World Cup, disrupting domestic league calendars worldwide.
The choice of host will significantly influence the tournament`s logistics, atmosphere, and global impact, adding another layer of anticipation to the lead-up to 2029.
Looking Ahead
While many details regarding the FIFA Club World Cup 2029 remain under discussion – particularly the potential format expansion and the crucial decision on the host(s) – the tournament is clearly intended to be a cornerstone event in the international football calendar. With the first teams already qualified and several nations vying for hosting rights, the journey to the next grand global club championship has officially begun.
