James Johnson, the head of Football Australia (FA), is optimistic about the success of FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup and is considering a joint bid with New Zealand to host the tournament in 2029.
Following the co-hosting of the Women’s World Cup by Australia and New Zealand this year, Johnson has expressed the possibility of a joint bid for the men’s tournament in 2034.
The inaugural 32-team Club World Cup, which was proposed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, is scheduled to be held in the United States in 2025. Johnson expressed his confidence that the tournament would be successful.
“It’s going to grow, over the years,” Johnson, who worked under Infantino at FIFA until 2018, told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Gianni really grew the Champions League at UEFA, he knows what it takes to do that.”
“To one day have the best club teams coming to our shores (would be) only good for Australian football. That’s something we could look at, as well as the men’s World Cup.”
“But that’s (after) we’ve delivered the best ever Women’s World Cup.”
Saudi Arabia will host the final edition of the Club World Cup with seven teams this year. The tournament will now occur every four years.
The ninth Women’s World Cup will commence on July 20 in Auckland and Sydney.
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