Inter Miami's Lionel Messi controls the ball past Paris Saint-Germain's Joao Neves during the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match between PSG and Inter Miami in Atlanta. (AP)

KUWAIT CITY, June 30: Media reports suggest that the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup could witness a significant shift, as Qatar has emerged as a new contender to host the global event. The development could mark a major change in direction for FIFA, which has been considering the United States as a recurring host nation.

According to The Mirror, Qatari officials held high-level discussions with FIFA representatives during the ongoing tournament in the U.S., expressing a strong desire to host the next edition in four years. However, the report highlights that staging the tournament in the Middle East could disrupt the English football calendar, as seen during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which required leagues worldwide to pause for over a month due to the winter schedule.

The report also noted that Qatar made a compelling case, focusing on its ability to deliver a carbon-neutral tournament — a stark contrast to the current edition, where teams are flying across 11 U.S. cities, increasing both cost and environmental impact.

Qatar has emphasized the existing infrastructure from the 2022 World Cup, with nine state-of-the-art stadiums still operational. The country’s compact geography further strengthens its bid by reducing travel costs and logistical complications for fans and teams alike — an advantage cited by both The Mirror and The Guardian.

In addition to Qatar, other potential hosts for the 2029 Club World Cup reportedly include Brazil, Spain, and Morocco, setting the stage for an intense competition to secure hosting rights for FIFA’s expanded tournament.