Qatar Plans Winter 2029 Club World Cup Hosting

Qatar is actively pursuing the opportunity to host the 2029 Club World Cup, with high-level discussions held recently between Qatari officials and FIFA representatives. The Qatari proposal includes staging the tournament in winter to avoid the extreme summer heat, similar to the 2022 World Cup, and emphasizes a carbon-neutral event leveraging existing stadium infrastructure from the 2022 World Cup to reduce costs and travel burdens. However, the proposal faces opposition from European leagues, including the Premier League, due to potential disruptions to their domestic seasons, and legal actions are underway by the European League and FIFPro over scheduling consultation concerns. Additionally, Qatar will host the final stages of the 2025 FIFA Confederations Cup and Club World Cup, continuing its role as a key venue for major FIFA tournaments, building on its experience from the 2024 edition. These developments highlight Qatar's strategic positioning as a recurring host for FIFA events despite climate and scheduling challenges.