What would the Club World Cup look like with 48 teams? | OneFootball

FIFA is preparing to expand the Club World Cup from 32 to 48 teams by 2029, according to the Guardian.

After Chelsea pocketed around £84 million for lifting the trophy, the financial incentives have become impossible for Europe’s elite clubs to ignore.

A proposed joint venture between FIFA and the European Club Association (EFC) is poised to take the competition to another level.

The biggest change would almost certainly be Europe’s representation.

Twelve UEFA clubs took part in the inaugural expanded edition, but that number could rise to 16-20 if the tournament expands to 48 teams.

The controversial two-club-per-country cap could disappear, which would dramatically change the competition.

Instead of seeing domestic champions miss out, England could realistically send Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea in the same tournament.

Spain might have Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, while Italy could feature Inter Milan, Napoli and Juventus.

The result would be a competition with almost every major European heavyweight rather than forcing FIFA to leave some of its biggest commercial attractions at home.

However, expansion cannot simply become a European takeover.

FIFA has repeatedly stressed that the Club World Cup should be a global competition, so South America, Africa, Asia, CONCACAF and Oceania will expect additional qualification places.

Brazilian clubs have shown that they can compete with Europe’s best, while Saudi Arabian, Japanese and Mexican clubs have invested heavily enough to deserve more representation.

The tournament format will also get an overhaul. A 48-team tournament naturally goes 12 groups of four before a larger knockout phase.

But FIFA could explore alternatives to avoid further congestion of an already packed calendar.

Player welfare will remain the biggest obstacle, with managers already voicing concerns over the number of matches elite footballers are expected to play every season.

The commercial appeal of an expansion is quite obvious. More clubs mean more supporters, bigger television audiences and better sponsorship opportunities.

FIFA struggled to secure broadcast deals for the 2025 competition, but adding more clubs will increase global viewership and give it leverage in future media negotiations.

The challenge for FIFA will be maintaining competitive integrity.

If qualification becomes too generous for Europe’s biggest leagues, critics will argue that the Club World Cup is beginning to resemble a global Champions League.

Finding that balance between commercial growth and worldwide representation is key.

It will determine whether a 48-team Club World Cup becomes football’s premier global event or another competition dominated by Europe’s financial giants.