Manchester United to Join Expanded FIFA Club World Cup

Manchester United is preparing to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup, which is set to expand from 32 teams to 48 teams starting in 2029. This decision was reported by FIFA, the governing body of world football, and is part of a broader strategy to globalize the competition and enhance its commercial appeal.

The expansion aims to provide clubs from Africa, Asia, North America, and South America the opportunity to compete on a global stage, rather than limiting the tournament to a select group of elite European and South American teams. UEFA's support for this campaign will facilitate European clubs, including Manchester United, in securing qualification slots under the new structure.

The current format of 32 teams will be fully settled before the transition to the expanded format, which is expected to mirror the growth strategy seen in the men's club world cup, which will also feature 48 nations in the 2026 edition hosted by the United States.