Club World Cup points to Qatar… and winter

The Club World Cup is far from being shelved. Quite the opposite. As we at AS have previously reported, discussions have continued behind the scenes and, while the immediate focus remains on events in the United States, the project launched last summer is very much alive as FIFA and the clubs work toward a structure that can be sustained over the long term.

Qatar has emerged as the leading candidate to host the next edition of the tournament. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has also suggested that Mexico could stage the competition after embracing both its national team and the matches it hosted during its third FIFA World Cup.

One of the biggest questions in the ongoing talks between FIFA and the participating clubs is where the tournament fits in the calendar. If Qatar is chosen as host, it would open the door to staging the competition on a schedule similar to the 2022 FIFA World Cup – during the winter months.

During Real Madrid’s presidential campaign last year, Florentino Pérez, one of the tournament’s strongest advocates alongside Gianni Infantino, hinted that a new place in the calendar could be explored. A winter Club World Cup has not been ruled out. It would require a different approach to the domestic season, but supporters believe it would have less impact than an international World Cup, with leagues adjusting schedules rather than shutting down competitions entirely.

The European Football Clubs (EFC) organization is playing an active role in the discussions, viewing the tournament’s financial potential as crucial to the future of European club soccer. Chelsea earned about $141 million for winning last year’s competition, while the semifinalists each secured roughly $118 million. Atlético Madrid, despite being eliminated in the group stage, still received around $27 million.

Another issue under discussion is expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams. That would allow more than two clubs from the same country to qualify and would require a redistribution of the available places. The most ambitious proposal – holding the tournament every two years instead of every four – remains a distant possibility for now, but it has not been ruled out as a long-term objective.

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