FIFA plans to expand Club World Cup to 48 teams for 2029 edition
A new joint venture with a major European club lobby group signals a bigger, more politically complex tournament is on the way
FIFA is planning to nearly double the size of its relaunched Club World Cup, expanding the competition from 32 teams to 48 for the 2029 edition.
The announcement lands just as the dust is settling on the first edition of the revamped tournament, which ran in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. Chelsea won the whole thing, beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final. PSG’s chairman, Nasser al-Khelaifi, watched his club lose the final and then turned around and became a central figure in shaping the next one.
FIFA and European clubs are now officially in business together
On June 25, 2026, FIFA announced a joint venture with the European Football Clubs lobby group, known as the EFC. The EFC represents over 700 clubs across the continent and is chaired by al-Khelaifi himself.
The EFC’s involvement is also expected to unlock changes to the current tournament structure, including a possible relaxation of the cap on how many clubs from a single country can qualify. Right now, UEFA holds 12 slots in the 32-team format. Under the proposed 48-team expansion, that allocation could rise to 16.
The 2025 edition set the financial baseline
FIFA secured a $1 billion global television rights deal with DAZN for the 2025 tournament. Prize money distributed across participating clubs totaled around £740 million. There is one unresolved item on the books. FIFA still needs to distribute £185 million in solidarity payments to clubs that did not participate in the 2025 tournament.
The DAZN deal also came with a notable funding dimension. Saudi investment sources contributed to bolstering the overall financial package around the tournament.