Surprise host emerges as favorite for 2029 FIFA Club World Cup — And it feels like World Cup 2022 all over again

Preparations for the 2029 Club World Cup are already heating up, and a surprise contender has stepped into the spotlight. The tournament’s next edition promises to be as lucrative and logistically complex as ever—and now, a potential repeat of a controversial yet successful past World Cup could be on the horizon.

FIFA is currently weighing its options for who will host the next Club World Cup, following the financial success of the expanded 2025 edition in the United States. While no official announcement has been made, ESPN reports that informal talks took place during this summer’s tournament, and one particular country is now leading the race: the same nation that hosted the 2022 World Cup.

That edition drew global scrutiny and admiration in equal measure—for its unique timing, its climate challenges, and its state-of-the-art infrastructure. Now, that country wants to do it again.

“Qatari representatives have held talks with FIFA officials at the highest level,” recently revealed The Guardian, with ESPN sources now confirming that December 2029 has been floated as the most likely window for the tournament.

The case for carbon-neutral Club World Cup

The country in question—Qatar—is reportedly positioning itself as a more sustainable alternative to the U.S.-based 2025 edition, where teams had to crisscross 11 cities and contend with extreme weather. “Qatar has said it could host a carbon-neutral tournament,” the Guardian noted, leveraging its nine stadiums built for the 2022 World Cup, six of which are in regular use in the Qatar Stars League.

This setup would drastically cut down on travel time for fans and teams, reducing both carbon emissions and logistical expenses. That contrasts starkly with the U.S. tournament, where weather delays—including a two-hour suspension in Charlotte during Chelsea’s match against Benfica—sparked criticism. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca called the delay “a joke”, highlighting the growing tension between FIFA’s scheduling ambitions and player welfare.

Pushback from European leagues

Still, a winter Club World Cup is far from universally welcomed. European domestic competitions, especially the Premier League, are fiercely opposed to the idea of a December tournament, which would disrupt their calendars. The European Leagues group and players’ union FIFPRO have already taken legal action against FIFA over the Club World Cup’s expansion and lack of consultation.

“Staging the next tournament in Qatar would exacerbate this conflict,” warned The Guardian, particularly since FIFA is also expected to move the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia to the winter for similar climate-related reasons.