FIFA is weighing the possibility of expanding the Club World Cup to 48 teams starting in 2029, even before the first edition of the newly expanded 32-team tournament kicks off this Sunday in the United States.
The current edition, which marks a significant shift from the competition’s previous format, will begin with Inter Miami taking on Al Ahly in the opening match.
While the tournament is still in its early stages, FIFA is already setting its sights on future reforms.
Discussions are expected to commence shortly with clubs and continental confederations to evaluate the viability and impact of increasing the number of participants to 48.
The 2025 tournament will act as a testing ground to assess the commercial and sporting success of the new 32-team setup.
Under the current format, the number of clubs per nation is restricted to two, with the exception of Brazil, which has four teams in this edition, and the host nation, the United States, which is represented by three clubs.
This qualification structure has drawn criticism, particularly in Europe, where several high-profile clubs—including Barcelona, Liverpool, Arsenal, and AC Milan—failed to qualify despite strong performances in recent years.
A 48-club format would be seen as a remedy to the growing dissatisfaction among elite clubs and would likely provide a broader and more inclusive representation of global football.
The change would also align the Club World Cup with FIFA’s broader expansion strategy already adopted for national team competitions.
Both the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the 2031 Women’s World Cup are set to feature 48 teams, a move FIFA believes enhances the global reach and inclusivity of the game.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström confirmed the organization’s open stance toward further modifications, saying, “All options are open” when it comes to the format for 2029.
He emphasized that any decision will be made after careful review of the 2025 tournament’s performance, with input from key stakeholders around the world.
As FIFA prepares to launch this new era for club football, the early discussions about further expansion underscore the governing body’s long-term ambition to transform the Club World Cup into a marquee global competition on par with its national team counterpart.
