FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Friday that the FIFA Club World Cup will expand to feature 32 teams beginning in 2025. “There will be a Club World Cup with 32 teams held every four years. The first edition will take place in the summer of 2025, in the slot previously occupied by the Confederations Cup,” Infantino said during a press briefing in Doha ahead of the World Cup final between Argentina and France.
The launch of the expanded tournament has been delayed multiple times, initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later in 2021 to accommodate scheduling conflicts with the Copa America and UEFA European Championship.
While the announcement confirms the format expansion, FIFA still needs to discuss and finalize specific details regarding the competition.
Infantino also revealed that a Women’s Club World Cup is in development, alongside the recently established FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup. In addition, FIFA plans to move the Under-17 World Cups to an annual schedule, further expanding opportunities for youth competitions on the global stage.
