FIFA is preparing to open a consultation process on a possible expansion of the Club World Cup to 48 teams starting in 2029, in response to growing pressure from major European clubs that were left out of the inaugural edition with 32 participants. The new tournament, kicking off this Saturday in the United States with an estimated investment of 1 billion dollars, offers prizes of up to 125.8 million (93.2 million pounds) for the champion, which has raised concerns among non-qualified teams who see their access to significant economic benefits limited.
Clubs such as Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Milan, with huge fan bases and strong commercial presence, have expressed interest in participating in the tournament. Currently, the limit of 12 European representatives excludes several of them, so an expansion appears to be the only way to guarantee their inclusion. The 48-team model to be applied in the men’s 2026 and women’s 2031 World Cups also reinforces this possibility, aligning with FIFA’s new global tournament strategy.
An expansion that divides opinions
The secretary general of FIFA, Mattias Grafström, recently stated that all options are on the table for 2029. The idea of modifying the format will be discussed with clubs and confederations once this summer’s tournament ends. From Europe, there is also a proposal to relax the rule allowing a maximum of two clubs per country, a rule that prevented Liverpool’s participation despite meeting one of the qualifying criteria. In contrast, countries like Brazil will have four representatives thanks to their consecutive victories in the Copa Libertadores.
The possible expansion has sparked opposition from entities such as Fifpro and the European Leagues association, which have filed a complaint with the European Commission accusing FIFA of abusing its dominant position by not consulting on the tournament’s scheduling. FIFA denies the accusations and responds with criticism towards what it sees as commercial interests disguised as concern. Meanwhile, the tournament has financial backing from Saudi Arabia—through the SURJ Sports Investment fund and the Public Investment Fund—along with agreements with DAZN, Channel 5, and historic brands like Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Visa.
