A FIFA Club World Cup expansion is moving closer to becoming a reality, with FIFA expected to increase the size of the competition from 32 to 48 teams ahead of the 2029 Club World Cup.
The proposed changes could allow more Premier League clubs to qualify, while also increasing the tournament’s commercial appeal and global reach.
Club World Cup Expansion Plans Gather Pace as FIFA and European Clubs Strengthen Partnership
Following the success of the expanded tournament in the United States, FIFA is now working more closely with the European Football Clubs (EFC) organisation, a move that is expected to play a major role in shaping the next Club World Cup.
The governing body has agreed to establish a joint venture with EFC to help operate the competition in the future.
The partnership mirrors EFC’s existing arrangement with UEFA for European club competitions and is widely seen as a significant step towards the Club World Cup expansion becoming official.
Chelsea’s triumph in the inaugural 32-team tournament demonstrated just how valuable the competition has become. The Premier League side reportedly earned around £84 million through prize money after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the final, encouraging many of Europe’s biggest clubs to push for greater access to future editions.
That financial success has strengthened calls for Club World Cup Expansion, with several leading clubs believing a larger tournament would create more qualification opportunities while generating even greater commercial revenue.
What It Could Mean for the Premier League
The biggest beneficiaries could be Premier League clubs. Under the current qualification system, FIFA limited each country to a maximum of two representatives, regardless of UEFA coefficient rankings.
While that rule helped create geographical balance, it also prevented some of Europe’s strongest teams from participating.
Liverpool, Barcelona and Napoli all missed the previous tournament despite being domestic league champions in 2025.
Qualification instead rewarded the previous four UEFA Champions League winners alongside the highest-ranked clubs based on UEFA’s coefficient system.
EFC is understood to favour removing the two-club limit, a change that would significantly affect English football.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all rank among UEFA’s highest-rated clubs, meaning England could potentially have far greater representation at the 2029 Club World Cup if the restrictions are lifted.
Such a move would make the next Club World Cup even more competitive while giving supporters the chance to see more matches involving Europe’s biggest clubs.
Why Fifa Wants a Bigger Tournament
Europe sent 12 clubs to the United States last year, while South America had six representatives and the Concacaf region had five.
Expanding the competition to 48 teams would create additional places across every confederation, although Europe is expected to receive the largest share of the extra spots due to its commercial value.
Supporters of the Club World Cup expansion believe including more elite European clubs would increase global interest, boost television audiences and attract additional sponsors.
Those factors have become increasingly important following FIFA’s efforts to maximise the tournament’s financial potential.
The governing body faced challenges securing a global broadcasting agreement before eventually reaching a reported $1 billion deal with DAZN.
The agreement came after the streaming platform received a major investment from Saudi Arabia-backed Surj Sports Investments, ensuring worldwide coverage for the competition.
A larger 2029 Club World Cup featuring more household names could make future media rights negotiations considerably easier while increasing sponsorship opportunities.
FIFA and EFC Relations Continue To Improve
Relations between FIFA and EFC have also improved considerably over the past year.
Before the first edition of the expanded competition, there had been disagreements over FIFA’s decision to organise the tournament independently rather than alongside European club representatives.
Those tensions have eased, paving the way for closer cooperation ahead of the next Club World Cup.
The new joint venture is expected to give European clubs a greater voice in commercial and operational decisions while helping FIFA continue developing the competition.
EFC represents more than 700 European clubs and is chaired by Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
The organisation now includes Real Madrid once again after the Spanish giants were readmitted earlier this year following their formal withdrawal from the European Super League project.
FIFA is believed to have been impressed by EFC’s commercial work with UEFA. Revenues from Champions League broadcasting and sponsorship agreements are expected to increase significantly during the next commercial cycle beginning in 2027, making EFC an attractive long-term partner for the global governing body.
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Solidarity Payments Still Need To Be Resolved
Before discussions over Club World Cup Expansion can be completed, however, there is still one major issue to resolve.
EFC is currently working with FIFA and the six continental confederations to finalise how £185 million in solidarity payments from last year’s tournament will be distributed.
While the £740 million prize fund has already been paid to participating clubs, the solidarity fund promised to clubs around the world remains outstanding.
The original plan was for clubs that did not participate to receive a share of the money, potentially amounting to around £50,000 for every top-flight club worldwide if distributed equally.
More than a year after the tournament, many clubs have become increasingly frustrated by the delay.
Once an agreement is reached on those payments, attention is expected to shift fully towards preparations for the 2029 Club World Cup.
Discussions surrounding qualification rules, tournament format and the possible expansion to 48 teams are likely to dominate the agenda over the coming years.
If approved, Club World Cup Expansion would represent another major milestone in FIFA’s plans to establish the competition as one of football’s biggest global events.
More clubs, greater prize money and stronger commercial partnerships would all help raise the profile of the next Club World Cup, while Premier League sides could ultimately be among the biggest winners.
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