FIFA to hold club world championship every two years

• FIFA will hold the club world championship every two years starting from 2029.
• Participating clubs demand an expansion of the tournament for increased prize money.
• Changes to the schedule may occur after 2030 due to legal challenges.

FIFA plans to hold the club world championship every two years, beginning in 2029, which raises new questions regarding the international calendar.

The next club world championship will take place in four years, following the first expanded tournament with 32 teams, which took place in the USA this year. However, some clubs, such as Real Madrid, have expressed a desire to switch to a biennial cycle during negotiations with FIFA in June. This proposal has received support from other clubs that did not qualify for this year's tournament, including Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Napoli.

Chelsea received £85 million in prize money from the previous competition, and other major European clubs are vying to secure significant revenues from FIFA, which is largely financed by Saudi Arabia. Liverpool, meanwhile, did not qualify for this year's tournament, although they would respond to one of the selection criteria, as they are among the top 8 best clubs in Europe.

FIFA has already engaged with legal representatives from world leagues, which accuse it of "abusive domination" for not holding consultations with them regarding the schedule for the club world championship. According to FIFA's director general, the situation may change after 2029, with the possibility of holding another tournament in 2031.

FIFA is considering increasing the number of participating teams from 32 to 48, which would align with the formats of other international tournaments. Meanwhile, the organization plans to conduct a formal tender for the hosting of future tournaments, as Qatar, Spain, and Morocco have already expressed interest in hosting the 2029 world championship.

Tags: Sport/Football