FIFA's Club World Cup is facing the possibility of being held in winter if Qatar is chosen as the next host country in 2029, a scenario that could cause major disruption to the schedules of European leagues, especially the Premier League.
According to The Guardian, Qatari representatives held a high-level meeting with FIFA leaders in the United States last week to express their desire to host the next expanded Club World Cup after the tournament was first held in the US this summer. However, due to the harsh summer climate, Qatar can only host the tournament in December - similar to the 2022 World Cup that took place here.
Qatar has proposed holding the 2029 Club World Cup in December, despite the possibility of strong opposition from European leagues, including the Premier League. Holding a major tournament in the middle of the season would force clubs to pause their matches, putting huge pressure on fixtures and players’ fitness. This is a similar problem to 2022, when European leagues were suspended for more than a month to make way for the World Cup in Qatar.
Qatar is still trying to convince FIFA, however, insisting that it can host a “carbon-neutral” tournament, using the infrastructure from the 2022 World Cup, including nine modern stadiums that are still in operation. This would significantly reduce the costs and travel requirements, compared to this year’s tournament in the United States, where teams had to travel between 11 cities.
Meanwhile, the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States has had its fair share of problems with conditions. Chelsea’s round of 16 match against Benfica was delayed by two hours due to a lightning strike near Bank of America Stadium – the sixth postponement of the tournament due to summer storms. Several players from different clubs have complained about the weather conditions, prompting FifPro – the global body representing professional footballers – to hold a press conference on Monday to discuss player welfare and safety.
Experts have warned that with erratic weather in North America, the 2026 World Cup – to be held in the US, Mexico and Canada – could face further delays. Meanwhile, FIFA is reportedly considering holding the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia in winter to avoid the extreme heat.
Although the specific dates for the 2029 Club World Cup have yet to be confirmed, the possibility of moving the tournament to the winter if Qatar hosts is a concern for clubs and European leagues, and is seen as the next big challenge for FIFA in balancing global interests and the stability of club football.
According to QUOC TIEP (according to The Sun)/Nguoi Dua Tin
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