Qatar has shown interest in bidding to host the 2030 Club World Cup, which could involve shifting the tournament to the winter months.
CuriosityNews has learned that Qatari officials have held discussions with top Fifa representatives during the ongoing tournament in the United States, signaling their intention to stage the event in five years' time.
Qatar reportedly expressed its ability to organize a tournament with minimal environmental impact, unlike the current edition, which has seen teams travel extensively across 11 U.S. cities. The country’s nine stadiums built for the 2022 World Cup remain operational, with six regularly hosting matches in Qatar’s top domestic league, offering cost-effective and convenient options for hosting matches.
However, the intense summer heat in Qatar could pose a challenge, likely necessitating a winter schedule—similar to the 2022 World Cup, despite the original proposal for a summer event. Extreme weather has also affected the current tournament in the U.S., including a two-hour delay in Chelsea’s match against Benfica due to storms in Charlotte, which drew criticism from manager Enzo Maresca.
Several players have raised concerns about conditions, with global players’ union Fifpro preparing to address these issues in an upcoming press conference.
Though no final decision has been made, December 2030 has been discussed as a probable window—a move that would face strong opposition from European leagues, including the Premier League, due to scheduling conflicts. The European League, an international lobby group, along with Fifpro, is already challenging Fifa in court over alleged lack of consultation regarding tournament planning. Hosting the next edition in Qatar could further escalate tensions.
Meanwhile, speculation persists that the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia may also shift to a winter schedule.
Clubs likely to participate might have differing views, given the financial incentives. Fifa has allocated a $1 billion prize pool for the current edition, with future tournaments expected to offer even greater rewards. Manchester City has already secured $51.7 million for advancing to the round of 16 and could earn an additional $74.1 million if they win the competition. The total prize money for winning all seven matches stands at $125 million—only slightly less than Paris Saint-Germain received from UEFA for their Champions League victory after 17 matches.
Fifa previously awarded the 2025 Club World Cup to the United States without an open bidding process.
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