Qatar has expressed interest in hosting the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, according to the Guardian.
Officials from Qatar have taken advantage of the ongoing tournament in the United States to hold talks with FIFA representatives.
They’re proposing a winter edition and have promised a carbon-neutral competition.
After successfully hosting the 2022 World Cup, the Gulf nation has set its sights on the Club World Cup and has nine purpose-built stadiums on standby.
Six of those stadiums are already in regular use for Qatari top-flight games. These venues could be reactivated if Qatar wins the bid to host the tournament.
They will help to reduce hosting costs and the need for domestic travel, unlike this year’s version, which has been staged in 11 cities across the US.
Qatar seem to have everything figured out, apart from the excessive heat.
Due to the country’s harsh summer temperatures, hosting the tournament in the middle of the year is unfeasible, so it has to be moved to the winter, as was done with the 2022 World Cup.
However, major European leagues would likely rebuff the idea as it would significantly affect their domestic calendars.
Qatar is currently in talks about hosting the tournament in December 2029. But the resistance has already started.
The European Leagues organisation and the global players’ union, FIFPRO, are pursuing legal action against FIFA for not consulting them about the new Club World Cup format.
Moving the 2029 edition to Qatar would only add fuel to the fire.
However, FIFA have an ace up their sleeve. The lucrative prize fund from the tournament could tempt the top clubs to support the move.
There’s an earth-shattering $1 billion prize pool set aside for the ongoing tournament.
Manchester City have already earned nearly $52 million for reaching the last 16 and could pocket an additional $74m if they win the competition.
Qatar is now one of four nations to officially throw their hat in the ring for hosting rights to the 2029 tournament, joining Spain, Morocco and Brazil.
