The first FIFA Club World Cup 2025 was a success in the United States, where Chelsea was crowned champion of this inaugural edition featuring 32 teams. However, after the tournament’s conclusion, the question now is where will the next edition be held?. Once Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, has not decided on the interval between editions or the host for the next Club World Cup.
One of the regions in the world that has advanced in the sports arena is the Middle East. It boasts strong financial support and space to develop stadiums, hotels, and transportation. One of the countries in the region that has consistently raised its hand is Qatar. It is positioned as the main contender to host the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029. Qatar’s bid benefits the majority due to its excellent relationship with FIFA and the organization it demonstrated during the 2022 World Cup.
Arab Promoters Will Influence Gianni Infantino
One of the most influential businessmen and promoters today is the president of Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser Al-Khelaifi. His role in opening football to the region has been crucial, placing the Middle Eastern country ahead of other options. The 2029 Club World Cup has two other countries interested in hosting the tournament: Brazil and Spain. The latter has greater interest since in 2030 they will host the FIFA World Cup at the national team level. Thus, its selection will be very important for their organizational and protocol preparations.
However, petro-dollars are ahead of Euros, and if Qatar’s selection is confirmed, the tournament would take place for the second time in winter, emulating what happened in the 2022 World Cup. That is, in November and December. In this regard, Al-Khelaifi has played a leading role in negotiating revenue for the eleven European clubs that are members of the European Club Association (ECA), which he chairs, in this multi-million-dollar competition.
How Often Will the FIFA Club World Cup Be Held?
The vast majority of the 32 teams that participated in the first edition have expressed their desire for the Club World Cup to be held every two years, motivated by the significant economic benefits. For example, Fluminense, by reaching the semifinals, pocketed 60 million euros, an amount equivalent to what they would earn in two Copa Libertadores tournaments.
However, FIFA considers reducing the frequency to biennial unfeasible due to the overcrowded football calendar. This would also create a new conflict with UEFA and the European Leagues Association, organizations with which tensions have already arisen over the Club World Cup, a decision that will be finalized in the coming weeks. Although in Qatar, most stadiums are operational, and the proximity between venues offers the appeal of attending multiple games per day.
Image: Marca
