Manchester United set for FIFA Club World Cup return

Manchester United look poised to end their exile from the FIFA Club World Cup after indications that the tournament will expand to 48 teams from the 2029 edition, a move that would all but guarantee the English giants a place among the contenders.

United were conspicuously absent from the most recent 32-team tournament, a snub that rankled supporters and triggered internal FIFA discussions about the competition’s structure. Under the current format, Europe receives 12 slots; the proposed enlargement would lift UEFA’s allocation to 16, dramatically improving the prospects of traditional powerhouses such as United, Barcelona and Liverpool.

According to The Guardian, UEFA is ready to support FIFA’s expansion plan, reflecting a thaw in relations between presidents Aleksander Ceferin and Gianni Infantino. Sources stress that the competition will remain a quadrennial event, quelling fears of a congested calendar.

Financial rewards add to the appeal. Chelsea banked £85 million from last year’s £774 million prize fund, illustrating the lucrative nature of global club football’s showpiece. For United, participation would offer both a commercial windfall and a platform to reassert their status on the world stage as they chase a regular return to the UEFA Champions League and implement structural changes behind the scenes.

Spain and Morocco have emerged as front-runners to stage the 2029 finals, which are scheduled one year before the men’s World Cup. While UEFA has declined official comment and finer details await ratification, momentum appears firmly behind the enlarged format.

After missing the last edition, Manchester United’s route back to FIFA’s premier club competition is coming into view.