To appease the major clubs, FIFA is poised to make a historic decision regarding the Club World Cup.

FIFA is evaluating the option to stage the Club World Cup on a biennial basis beginning in 2029, after significant lobbying from leading European teams.

This move promises to boost the commercial appeal of club football, but it also risks increasing tensions with domestic leagues and UEFA.

According to the current plan, the Club World Cup will return in 2029, after the first expanded edition with 32 teams in the US in summer 2025. However, several top European clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Napoli are urging FIFA to shorten the cycle to every two years.Notably, Real Madrid reportedly raised this issue directly during a meeting with FIFA in Miami last June.

The enormous revenues generated by the tournament are the main attraction for Europe's elite clubs. For example, Chelsea earned up to £85 million by winning the Club World Cup, and other clubs want more opportunities to share in these profits.

Specifically, Liverpool missed out on the 2025 tournament despite being among the top eight European clubs by ranking, as FIFA imposed a maximum of two teams per country. This has led The Kop and other clubs to seek changes to both the cycle and qualification criteria.

However, the proposal to hold the event biennially faces strong opposition from UEFA and player representative organizations. The World Leagues group, which includes the Premier League, has even filed a complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of "abusing its power" by making decisions without consulting stakeholders before adding the tournament to the international calendar.

Premier League CEO Richard Masters stated: “FIFA was established to oversee global football and manage international competitions. The Club World Cup is a deeper foray into club football. At minimum, we need to have a seat at the table to discuss the impact on domestic schedules.”

Currently, FIFA has no plans to hold the tournament in 2027 due to the international calendar being set until 2030, but the possibility of a biennial Club World Cup starting from 2029 is under review. Simultaneously, FIFA is considering increasing the number of participating teams from 32 to 48, aligning with the format of upcoming men's and women's World Cups.

Meanwhile, several countries have expressed interest in hosting the Club World Cup in 2029, including Qatar, Spain, and Morocco. FIFA is expected to announce the official bidding process later this year.