Australia is considering a joint bid alongside New Zealand to host the second edition of FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup (CWC) soccer tournament in 2029.
The new event is the brainchild of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and currently features seven teams – six confederation champions and a representative of the host nation – playing annually.
However, in an effort to revamp the tournament, it will expand into a 32-team competition from 2025 (with that event to take place in the US) and be played every four years in June and July.
Speaking to Australian news outlet the Sydney Morning Herald, Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said: “It’s [the CWC] going to grow, over the years.
“Gianni [Infantino] really grew the Champions League at [European soccer's governing body] UEFA, he knows what it takes to do that. To one day have the best club teams coming to our shores [would be] only good for Australian soccer.
“That’s something we could look at, as well as the men’s World Cup – but that’s [after] we’ve delivered the best ever Women’s World Cup (WWC).”
The comments come as the two nations prepare to co-host the WWC from July 20 to August 20, which Johnson also said could be a launch pad for a joint bid for the men’s edition, possibly in 2034.
New Zealand Football chair Johanna Wood, who also sits on the FIFA council, added: “There are going to be multiple opportunities for collaboration around co-hosting, I think, moving forward.
“We [Australia and New Zealand] are working a lot more closely. I talk with my counterpart Chris [Nikou], and I know Andrew [Pragnell, NZF chief executive] and James are in constant contact.
“We are always sounding out what we can do together and that will only strengthen.”
The last edition of the Club World Cup featuring only seven teams is being staged in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah between December 12 and 22. Morocco hosted the previous edition, in February, which was won by Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Infantino first confirmed the tournament’s expansion to a 32-team format in December last year.
The first edition of FIFA’s expanded CWC will be staged in the US in 2025 and will take place every four years after that.
That CWC will include 12 European clubs – including Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, the winners of the past three UEFA Champions Leagues, and a selection of other high-performing teams – as well as the winner of the equivalent tournament in Africa, Asia, North and Central America, and South America, over a four-year period, as well as one guaranteed slot for a club from the host nation.
Australia’s domestic A-League teams can qualify by winning the AFC Champions League, but at least one Australian or New Zealand side would earn automatic qualification if the tournament was held in those countries in 2029.
