FIFA Considers Awarding 2029 Club World Cup to US Without Formal Bidding Process

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is reportedly maneuvering to award the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup to the United States without initiating a formal competitive bidding process. The move would bypass traditional hosting protocols, granting the US its third major global soccer tournament of the decade following the 2025 Club World Cup and the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.[1][4]

The strategy mirrors the exact mechanism used to assign the inaugural expanded 32-team Club World Cup to the US in 2025, which was decided unanimously by the FIFA Council without an open tender. Now, as discussions regarding the 2029 edition accelerate, Infantino appears eager to replicate that streamlined approach to lock in the American market for a second consecutive cycle.[1][5]

The primary driver behind FIFA's American focus is unprecedented commercial success. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted with Mexico and Canada, has shattered previous financial metrics, selling an estimated 6.5 million tickets and tracking to exceed $11 billion in tournament-related revenue.[1][4]

Capitalizing on this momentum, FIFA leadership views the US as the most reliable engine for funding its ambitious club-level expansion. The 2029 tournament is currently being discussed as a potentially massive 48-team event, which would require the kind of turnkey stadium and broadcasting infrastructure that the United States has already proven it can deliver at scale.[1][5]

However, the prospect of a closed-door selection process has triggered significant pushback from other global football powers who feel sidelined. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has formally notified FIFA of its intent to host the 2029 tournament, hoping to bring the expanded club competition to South America's largest market.[3][6]

CBF President Samir Xaud previously met with Infantino to pitch Brazil's readiness, leveraging the country's existing infrastructure from the 2014 World Cup and its upcoming hosting duties for the 2027 Women's World Cup. Brazilian officials argue that rotating the tournament is essential for genuinely globalizing the club game and rewarding historic footballing nations.[2][3]

Beyond Brazil, a crowded field of potential suitors is monitoring the situation. Morocco, which is co-hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, has emerged as a strong contender, while Australia and Qatar have also signaled interest in staging future editions of the lucrative club showcase.[2]

The geopolitical dynamics surrounding the decision are complex. FIFA has cultivated an increasingly close relationship with the US government, a dynamic highlighted recently when President Donald Trump's World Cup taskforce publicly praised the sport's explosive American growth and commercial viability.[1][4]

While Trump will leave office in January 2029, he will still be in power when the FIFA Council makes its final hosting determination. Observers note that these high-level political ties, combined with the sheer scale of the US commercial market, give the American bid a formidable, perhaps insurmountable, advantage over traditional bidding nations.[1]

For now, FIFA has not officially opened an application window or published selection criteria for the 2029 event. A final decision is widely anticipated in 2027, likely following the FIFA presidential election scheduled for April of that year, leaving rival nations a narrow window to force a transparent vote.[1][4]