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The world of club football is about to get a lot more crowded. As of February 19, 2026, FIFA has reportedly secured the green light to expand the FIFA Club World Cup from 32 to 48 teams for the next edition in 2029.
This massive structural change comes after months of high-level negotiations between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, effectively transforming the tournament into a "Club World Cup" that mirrors the scale of the expanded 48-nation FIFA World Cup.
The "Grand Bargain": Why UEFA Said Yes
For a long time, UEFA was the loudest voice against expansion, fearing a "saturated" calendar would devalue the Champions League. So, what changed?
The Two-Year Trade-off: FIFA has officially dropped the proposal to hold the tournament every two years. In exchange for keeping the four-year cycle, UEFA has agreed to the 48-team format.
The "Lesser Evil": European giants like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Liverpool missed out on the 2025 edition due to strict country quotas (max 2 per nation).
Expanding to 48 teams allows for more "safety nets," ensuring the world’s most popular clubs are almost always present.
Slot Increases: Under the new model, Europe’s allocation is expected to jump from 12 to 16 slots, while other confederations like CAF (Africa) and AFC (Asia) will also see significant boosts in representation.
The 2025 Legacy: The successful inaugural 32-team tournament in the USA (won by Chelsea) proved that there is a massive global appetite for elite cross-continental club matches, even if domestic leagues remain concerned about player workload.
The Verdict: While the World Leagues Association and FIFPRO (the players' union) are still raising concerns about player fatigue, the political battle between FIFA and UEFA is over. The Club World Cup is now solidified as the "Super Bowl" of club football, and the 48-team format ensures it will be a commercial behemoth.