Qatar eyes FIFA Club World Cup 2029 hosting bid: Report

Spain and Morocco, jointly, and Brazil are keen on hosting the next Club World Cup.

In a move that would transfer the competition to the winter, Qatar has indicated interest in bidding to host the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. According to information obtained by The Guardian, Qatari delegates to the tournament in the United States had high-level discussions with FIFA officials. They expressed a wish to host the next tournament, which will be held after four years.

In sharp contrast to the present Club World Cup, which has entailed teams travelling across the United States with stadiums in 11 different cities, Qatar is rumoured to have stated that it could host a carbon-neutral competition.

Qatar are considering hosting the 2029 Club World Cup

The nine stadiums built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar are still in operation, and six of them are frequently utilised for their Stars League matches. They may all be used to reduce the cost of staging and spectator travel.

Although the logistics of the planned event would work for FIFA, the intense summer heat in Qatar would be a big issue. It would probably force it to be relocated to winter, as was the case with the 2022 World Cup, even though the original bid was for a summer event.

The United States also have high temperatures and severe weather this summer. Storms in Charlotte, North Carolina, forced Chelsea’s victory over SL Benfica in the round of 16 to be postponed for two hours, a decision that the Blues manager Enzo Maresca denounced as “a joke.”

Club players have voiced their dissatisfaction with the tournament’s circumstances. On Monday, the international players’ organisation FIFPro is scheduled to hold a press conference to discuss their welfare issues.

Although the European leagues, especially the Premier League, would strongly object due to the disruption it would create to domestic seasons, it is claimed that December 2029 has been identified as a probable date for a Club World Cup in Qatar during informal conversations.

FIFA and FIFPro are already facing legal action from the international lobby organisation European League for allegedly failing to consult on the Club World Cup. Moreover, holding the next competition in Qatar will further intensify the dispute.

There is a general belief that the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia will be moved to the winter, although the exact date has not yet been determined.

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