The States are kicking off their bid for the 2029 Club World Cup, with reports emerging of clandestine discussions between US officials and FIFA honchos. The appetite for a major tournament on American soil is no surprise, given the astronomical success of the current co-hosted World Cup – a financial juggernaut that's set to blow past $11 billion in revenue and smash records left and right.
While the White House hasn't confirmed their involvement just yet, Andrew Giuliani, former President Trump's World Cup taskforce chair, has been singing from the same hymn sheet. In a recent interview, he declared: "Soccer is no longer a future American story. It's happening right now!" The US has already had a taste of hosting big-time football, courtesy of their spot on the expanded 2025 Club World Cup – handed over by FIFA without a formal bidding process in June 2023.
FIFA's numbers are telling a tale of two halves: an estimated 6.5 million tickets sold, nearly doubling their previous record haul, and an aggressive pricing strategy that's brought in the pounds (£307 million from ticket sales and hospitality at last year's Club World Cup). The relationship between the US and FIFA is as strong as ever – just ask Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was allegedly smoothed out by Trump himself after a chat with President Infantino.
The 2029 tournament, expanded to 48 teams and backed by major European clubs, was initially touted for Spain and Morocco. But other nations are now sniffing around the prize – including Brazil and Qatar. A US-hosted tournament would be a golden ticket for FIFA, generating millions in revenue from another sell-out event.
Trump's tenure may soon come to an end, but he'll still be at the helm when a decision on hosts is expected next year. FIFA will announce their process and timeline after April's presidential election – but it seems they're ready to give America another bite of the cherry.
FIFA has made no bones about its desire for lucrative tournament hosting deals, and with the current World Cup generating unprecedented buzz and revenue, a US-hosted 2029 Club World Cup would be a match made in heaven. The question is – will they take it to the wire or announce their bid before anyone else gets a shot at the prize?