US in Talks with FIFA to Host 2029 Club World Cup After World Cup Success

US in Talks with FIFA Over Hosting 2029 Club World Cup to Capitalize on World Cup Success

Officials have held preliminary discussions about bringing the tournament back to American soil just four years after the 2025 edition, seeking to ride the wave of record-breaking interest in soccer stateside.

The United States is eyeing another major international soccer tournament, with officials holding talks with FIFA about hosting the 2029 Club World Cup . The move comes as the nation basks in the glow of a hugely successful 2026 World Cup campaign, which is shattering both attendance and revenue records.

While the US co-hosts have not yet committed to a formal bid due to the selection process still being undefined, the interest underscores the country's ambition to become a global soccer powerhouse . The discussions signal a potential repeat of 2025, when the US was awarded the inaugural expanded Club World Cup without a bidding process .

An Unprecedented Era for American Soccer

Andrew Giuliani, who chairs the White House World Cup task force, hailed the current moment as a turning point for the sport in America. "Soccer is no longer a future American story," Giuliani said. "It's happening right now. There's just so much demand to come to the United States to watch the World Cup" .

His words are backed by staggering numbers. FIFA has nearly doubled its previous sales record by selling 6.5 million tickets for the 2026 World Cup and is expected to exceed its revenue target of $11 billion (£8.2bn) . This commercial success has clearly caught the attention of FIFA leadership, making the prospect of a return to North America for the 2029 Club World Cup a highly lucrative option.

The Perfect Storm: 2028 Olympics and 2031 Women's World Cup

Hosting the 2029 Club World Cup would add another jewel to an unprecedented run of tournaments for the US. The country is already set to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and an unopposed joint bid with Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica for the 2031 Women's World Cup is expected to be ratified by FIFA this year . Adding the Club World Cup to this roster would cement the 2020s as the defining decade for soccer in the United States.

This concentration of events is seen as a powerful incentive for FIFA. Awarding the 2029 tournament to the US would allow for the consolidation of sponsors and provide a legacy event immediately following the 2026 World Cup . For top European clubs, the US is already a priority market for pre-season tours, making the location commercially attractive .

A Crowded Field of Potential Hosts

The US is not alone in expressing interest. It had been widely expected that the 2029 tournament would go to two of the 2030 World Cup hosts, most likely Spain and Morocco . However, the field is now crowded. The Brazilian Football Confederation has stated its desire to host, and reports have also indicated interest from Qatar and even England .

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Another complicating factor is FIFA's desire to expand the Club World Cup from 32 to 48 teams in 2029, a proposal supported by major European clubs . A larger tournament would require substantial infrastructure, which could further strengthen the US bid given its existing world-class stadiums and experience hosting mega-events.

Political Dynamics and Decision Timeline

The path to a decision remains unclear. It is not yet known whether the White House or President Donald Trump's World Cup task force has been directly involved in the discussions . Trump is due to leave office in January 2029, before the tournament would be played, but would still be in post when the decision is made .

FIFA has not announced the timeline for selecting the 2029 hosts, but a decision is expected next year, likely after the FIFA presidential election in April . The relationship between FIFA and the US government has been thrust into the spotlight recently after President Trump asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the sending-off of US striker Folarin Balogun , highlighting the close ties between the two parties.

A New Era on the Horizon

The prospect of the US hosting the 2029 Club World Cup is more than just a proposal; it's a testament to the country's rapid emergence as a central player in the global soccer economy. After years of being viewed as a "future" market, the sport is now delivering record-breaking returns in the present.

While Spain and Brazil remain strong contenders, the combination of existing infrastructure, commercial might, and an appetite for major events positions the US as a frontrunner. As FIFA looks to build on the unprecedented success of the 2026 World Cup, a return to American soil for the Club World Cup could represent the next logical and most profitable step in its global expansion plans.