Real Madrid, Top Clubs Push For Biennial FIFA Club World Cup

Real Madrid and other top European clubs are reportedly lobbying FIFA to shorten the cycle of the FIFA Club World Cup from every four years to every two years.

According to Madrid Zone via @Rodra10_97, the Spanish giants are leading calls for the revamped 32-team tournament to be held biennially, rather than once every four years as currently planned.

The world football governing body, FIFA, which only just expanded the format starting with the 2025 edition, considers such a shift “impossible for now,” citing scheduling complications and concerns over player workload.

This latest development comes after Chelsea’s historic triumph in the 2025 Club World Cup, where the Blues delivered a commanding 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the final held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the United States.

The victory means that the Premier League side is the first club to lift the Club World Cup trophy under the new 32-team format.

In response to the expanded tournament, FIFA has also rebranded past winners of the old 7-team version as “Intercontinental Champions.” That includes Manchester City, who defeated Brazil’s Fluminense 4-0 in the 2023 final, the last to be played under the old structure.

This means that Real Madrid, who won the old format a record five times before it was changed to the current format, can no longer be referred to as Club World Cup winners.