Next FIFA Club World Cup Updates: Format, Teams, Venues & Final Results
Qatar has been formally ruled out of hosting the next FIFA Club World Cup, which FIFA has confirmed would take place in the summer of 2029. After months of conjecture over the competition’s future following its enlarged 2025 edition in the US, the decision was made. The 2029 edition is expected to change the world football schedule once more, with talks raging about a potential 48-team format and new hosting candidates including Spain, Morocco, and Brazil.
Why Qatar Was Excluded
Despite vigorous lobbying to host the event, Qatar argued that it could only be held in the winter because of the intense summer heat in the nation. In order to coincide with the European club off-season and prevent interference with domestic leagues, FIFA had committed to holding the competition in the summer. FIFA has demonstrated its readiness to put player welfare and scheduling harmony ahead of financial incentives by rejecting Qatar’s application.
Tournament Expansion: 32 or 48 Teams?
The 2025 Club World Cup debuted with 32 clubs, mirroring the FIFA World Cup format. For 2029, FIFA is weighing whether to:
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Expand to 48 teams outright, which would increase global participation but add scheduling and logistical challenges.
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Introduce play-in rounds or qualifying playoffs in the week before the main competition. This would maintain the 32-team structure while adding more opportunities for clubs from underrepresented regions.
The final decision is expected by 2027, but the trend is clear—FIFA intends to expand its flagship club competition.
Potential Hosts for 2029
With Qatar out of the picture, several strong candidates remain:
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Spain – Leveraging La Liga’s infrastructure and experience with major football events.
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Morocco – Building on recent success hosting continental tournaments and part of the 2030 World Cup hosting trio.
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Brazil – Strong stadium network from past tournaments, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2027 Women’s World Cup.
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Portugal – Could serve as host for pre-tournament playoff rounds rather than the full event.
The official decision is expected within the next 18 months.
Biennial Tournament Discussions
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has floated the idea of making the Club World Cup a biennial event after 2030, which would transform it into a regular global fixture. While this model could generate billions in additional revenue, critics argue it would congest the football calendar and undermine domestic and continental competitions. For now, the 2029 tournament will remain part of a quadrennial cycle.
Broader Context and Implications
Revenue Potential
The 2025 edition generated over $2 billion in commercial and broadcasting revenue, making it one of FIFA’s most successful events outside the World Cup. The expanded format proved commercially viable, and FIFA is keen to build on this momentum.
Player Welfare and Scheduling
By rejecting a winter event, FIFA avoided a repeat of the 2022 Qatar World Cup scheduling issues. European leagues—especially the Premier League and La Liga—welcomed the summer slot, reducing mid-season disruptions. However, the debate over match congestion remains heated as FIFA seeks to expand both men’s and women’s competitions globally.
Global Football Governance
The 2029 decision reflects FIFA’s effort to rebalance influence between global football bodies and powerful European leagues. By introducing more slots for African, Asian, and South American clubs, FIFA is positioning the Club World Cup as a true global alternative to UEFA’s Champions League.
Key Takeaways Table
| Topic | Update for 2029 |
|---|---|
| Timing | Summer 2029 confirmed; avoids winter scheduling issues. |
| Host | Qatar ruled out; Spain, Morocco, Brazil among frontrunners. |
| Format | 32 teams confirmed, with possible playoffs or future expansion. |
| Future Frequency | Biennial tournament under review post-2030. |
| Revenue | Building on $2B+ success of 2025 tournament. |
| Welfare | Summer slot chosen to protect players and avoid league clashes. |
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Overview
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025, hosted in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025, marked the beginning of a new era in world football. Expanded to 32 teams, the tournament became a month-long spectacle comparable to the FIFA World Cup, bringing together champions from every continent. With global superstars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham, alongside giants such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Flamengo, the event reshaped international club football.
Tournament Format & Structure
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Expansion: From 7 teams in the old annual system to 32 teams every four years.
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Group Stage: Eight groups of four clubs each. Top two advanced to the Round of 16.
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Knockouts: Single-elimination format from Round of 16 to the Final.
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Number of Matches: 63 total matches played across 29 days.
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Qualification: Allocations by confederation – UEFA (12), CONMEBOL (6), AFC, CAF & CONCACAF (4 each), OFC (1), plus Inter Miami as host club.
This new system gave the competition greater prestige and higher stakes, aligning it with FIFA’s vision of making it the “World Cup of clubs.”
Schedule Overview
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | June 14 – June 26 |
| Round of 16 | June 28 – July 1 |
| Quarterfinals | July 4 – July 5 |
| Semifinals | July 8 – July 9 |
| Final | July 13 |
The tournament spanned nearly a month, concluding with the final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.
Host Cities & Stadiums
A total of 12 stadiums across 11 cities staged the competition:
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MetLife Stadium (New Jersey) – 82,500 (Final venue)
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Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA) – 89,702
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Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) – 71,000
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Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC) – 74,867
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Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) – 68,740
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Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA) – 67,594
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Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL) – 64,767
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Camping World Stadium (Orlando, FL) – 60,219
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Geodis Park (Nashville, TN) – 30,109
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Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, FL) – 25,500
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TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH) – 26,000
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Audi Field (Washington, DC) – 20,000
The final attracted 81,118 spectators, demonstrating strong US hosting capacity ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Qualified Teams & Group Breakdown
Some of the world’s biggest clubs competed in the revamped format:
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Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami CF
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Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
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Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
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Group D: Flamengo, Espérance de Tunis, Chelsea, LAFC
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Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
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Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns
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Group G: Manchester City, Wydad AC, Al Ain, Juventus
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Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, RB Salzburg
This global spread highlighted the best of European, South American, Asian, and African football.
Broadcasting, Sponsorship & Prize Money
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Broadcasting: DAZN acquired exclusive global streaming rights worth nearly €1 billion, with local deals in the US via TNT Sports and Univision.
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Prize Pool: A record $1 billion distributed across participants, underscoring FIFA’s ambition to make the Club World Cup a commercial powerhouse.
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Sponsorship: Backed by Visa, Adidas, and Coca-Cola, the event mirrored FIFA World Cup branding in scale and marketing.
Technological Innovations
The 2025 edition introduced cutting-edge technology for fans and refereeing:
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Referee body cams for broadcast footage.
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VAR screens visible inside stadiums.
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Semi-automated offside detection using ball sensors.
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AI-driven live match analytics.
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Digital substitution systems.
These changes enhanced transparency, fairness, and fan engagement.
The Final: Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain
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Result: Chelsea defeated PSG 3–0 at MetLife Stadium.
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Man of the Match: Cole Palmer (Chelsea).
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Attendance: 81,118.
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Key Highlights: Chelsea’s pressing game overwhelmed PSG; Enzo Fernández and Palmer dominated midfield play. This was Chelsea’s second Club World Cup title, their first under the new 32-team format.
Criticisms & Controversies
Despite success, the 2025 Club World Cup faced challenges:
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Ticket Prices: Initially priced up to $2,200 for the final, forcing FIFA to slash costs to $140–$300 after slow sales.
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Qualification Debate: Inter Miami’s wildcard entry drew criticism as commercially motivated.
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Scheduling: European clubs expressed concern over fixture congestion, given the tight calendar.
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Attendance: Group stage crowds averaged ~36,000, respectable but below FIFA expectations for some matches.
Broader Significance
The 2025 Club World Cup was more than a tournament — it was a dress rehearsal for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, proving the US can host multi-city global football events. It also signaled a new commercial and sporting chapter in international club football, cementing its place as the “World Cup for clubs.”
✅ Final Takeaway: The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 delivered historic milestones, crowned Chelsea as champions, and set new standards in technology, fan experience, and commercial scale. While controversies remain, the tournament has redefined the future of global club football.
