Uefa is set to support Fifa's proposal to expand the Club World Cup to 48 teams for the 2029 edition, marking a thaw in relations between Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and Fifa president Gianni Infantino. The European governing body had previously opposed the expansion over fears it could undermine the Champions League, but has now agreed in exchange for a commitment that the tournament will not be held every two years.
The shift follows Real Madrid's proposal for a biennial Club World Cup during talks in Miami last June, though that idea stalled due to opposition from Uefa and domestic European leagues. Real Madrid recently ended their five-year legal battle with Uefa by withdrawing from the European Super League, aligning with the football establishment led by Infantino, Ceferin, and Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi.
Fifa had been open to expanding the tournament from 32 teams to guarantee participation of top European clubs like Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester United, who missed the last edition. Infantino stated in October that Fifa was working to make the event "bigger, even better, even more impactful."
Uefa's opposition was a major hurdle, but legal challenges remain, including a complaint from the European Leagues group to the European Commission over the international match calendar. While some at Uefa worry about the financial impact of the Club World Cup, expanding to 48 teams is seen as less disruptive than a biennial format.
European clubs stand to benefit, with the number of Uefa qualifiers likely rising from 12 to 16. Chelsea earned £85m from last year's £774m prize pot, and adding more European teams could affect Champions League balance. The improved Uefa-Fifa relations follow a low point last May when Ceferin and European delegates walked out of a Fifa congress in protest at Infantino's late arrival. Both presidents are expected to seek re-election next year, and sources indicate a period of calm serves their interests.
Spain and Morocco are frontrunners to host the 2029 Club World Cup, a year before they co-host the 2030 World Cup.
