FIFA is contemplating the potential for biennial Club World Cups starting in 2029, a move that could further stress the international calendar and provoke additional backlash from the Premier League and UEFA.

The next Club World Cup is set for four years from now, following this summer’s inaugural expanded 32-team tournament in the United States. Nonetheless, pressure from major clubs is mounting for FIFA to alter the event to a two-year cycle. Real Madrid reportedly brought up the idea of a biennial tournament during discussions with FIFA in Miami last June, with backing from other notable clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Napoli, who did not qualify for this year’s event.

Chelsea garnered approximately 95 million euros in prize money for clinching the title, and several prominent European clubs wish to reap the substantial revenues generated by FIFA, which are predominantly funded by the Saudi firm Surj Sports Investments.

Liverpool, notably, missed out on participating this year, despite being one of the top eight ranked clubs in Europe by qualifying standards. Their failure to qualify stemmed from FIFA’s decision to limit the number of clubs per nation to two, with Chelsea and Manchester City securing the English spots as recent Champions League winners. An exception to this rule exists if more than two clubs from the same country win their continental competition during the qualification timeframe, as witnessed with Brazil this year.

FIFA sources indicate that while a Club World Cup in 2027 is not a serious consideration, circumstances could change post-2029, with the potential for a new tournament in 2031.

Currently, FIFA’s options are limited due to the fixed international match calendar extending until 2030, incorporating only the 2029 tournament as outlined in a memorandum of understanding established two years ago with the European Club Association.

With FIFA already facing legal challenges from the World Leagues organization—an international lobby including the Premier League—it is keen to avoid further aggravating the situation by modifying the existing schedule.

As a potential compromise for club football, reports suggest that FIFA might consider eliminating the June international break to alleviate player workloads and create space for events like the Club World Cup. However, such a proposal would likely face opposition from UEFA, which utilizes the summer break to conduct the finals of its Nations League competition.

Following the award of this year’s tournament to the United States without a bidding process, FIFA aims to implement a formal bid process for future tournaments. Qatar, Spain, and Morocco have already shown interest in hosting the 2029 event, with further details about the bidding process anticipated later this year.

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