Qatar Could Host 2029 Club World Cup, Leaving Brazil Out Once Again
FIFA considers Middle Eastern nation due to infrastructure; Brazil’s bid weakens despite Women’s World Cup preparations
FIFA is reportedly leaning toward choosing Qatar as the host nation for the 2029 Club World Cup, potentially excluding Brazil from hosting the prestigious tournament once again. The news comes from ESPN, which reports that planning for the next edition of the tournament is already underway within FIFA’s inner circles.
The decision would come as a major blow to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and its president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, who had publicly expressed strong interest in hosting the tournament. Despite Brazil’s recent football success in the 2025 edition when Fluminense reached the semifinals Qatar appears to be the frontrunner thanks to its world-class infrastructure.
Qatar’s advantage: World Cup-ready stadiums
Qatar’s main selling point is its state-of-the-art stadiums and infrastructure, which were built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. With venues already tested and approved, the Gulf nation offers a low-risk, high-efficiency option for FIFA.
The Al Bayt, Lusail, and Education City stadiums remain in top condition and require little to no investment compared to other countries preparing from scratch. This efficiency aligns with FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s vision for hosting future events with minimal logistical issues.
Brazil’s case weakens despite Women’s World Cup
Brazil had hoped to leverage the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which it will host, as proof of readiness to organize another top-tier tournament. With modern stadiums in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília, the country believes it is fully capable of accommodating global football fans.
CBF argued that Brazilian fans would generate better stadium atmospheres and higher ticket demand a weak point in both the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States, which suffered from poor attendance.
FIFA eyes a new format: Club World Cup every two years?
In parallel, FIFA executives are considering holding the Club World Cup every two years instead of every four, due to the new expanded format and commercial potential. The proposal has received support from Palmeiras president Leila Pereira and Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, both of whom believe a biennial competition would generate more revenue and global exposure.
According to them, this would also create more opportunities for clubs outside Europe to shine on the international stage, strengthening global football development.
