2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Tournament details
Host countryUnited States
DatesJune 15 – July 13
Teams32

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is the planned 21st edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, an international club soccer competition organized by FIFA. The tournament is scheduled to be played in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. The tournament is planned to be the first under an expanded format with 32 teams, including the winners of the four previous continental championships.[1]

Manchester City are the defending champions.

Background and format

The FIFA Club World Cup had been an annual event in winter limited to the winners of continental club competitions since its return from hiatus in 2005.[2] As early as late 2016, FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggested an initial expansion of the Club World Cup to 32 teams beginning in 2019 and to be rescheduled to June/July to be more balanced and more attractive to broadcasters and sponsors.[3] In late 2017, FIFA discussed proposals to expand the competition to 24 teams and have it be played every four years by 2021, replacing the FIFA Confederations Cup.[4] The expanded format and schedule of Club World Cup, to be played in June and July 2021, was confirmed at the March 2019 FIFA Council meeting in Miami.[5][6] China was appointed as hosts in October 2019,[7] but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8][9]

On June 23, 2023, FIFA confirmed that the United States will host the 2025 tournament as a prelude to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[10] The host cities for the tournament remain undecided.[11] The 32 teams will be divided into 8 groups of 4 teams with the top 2 teams in each group qualifying to the knockout stage.[12] The format will be the same that was used in the FIFA World Cup between 1998 and 2022.

Criticism

When Infantino announced in December 2022 that a 32-team version of the tournament in 2025 was still planned, but the proposal would require approval from the six confederations.[13] The proposed expansion was criticized by FIFPRO, a global union of professional players, as well as the World Leagues Forum, which represents professional leagues; both organizations raised concerns about player welfare due to the added fixtures in an already congested playing calendar.[14][15] La Liga — the Spanish top division league — also criticized the plan and said in a statement that it would consider legal action to block the expansion.[16]

The tournament format is generating controversy, with many clubs and national federations opposing its scheduling and accusing FIFA of prioritizing money over the health of the players.[17] The addition of the new FIFA Intercontinental Cup tournament will allegedly generate an overload of competitions and put the health of the players at risk.[18][19][20]

Slot allocation and qualification

Location of the non-UEFA teams participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Location of the UEFA teams participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

On February 14, 2023, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation for the 2025 tournament based on a "set of objective metrics and criteria". UEFA were awarded the most slots with twelve, while CONMEBOL were given the second most with six. The AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF were all given four slots, while the OFC and the host association were given one slot each.[21] On March 14, 2023, the FIFA Council approved the key principles of the access list for the tournament.[22] The principles are as follows, considering competitions completed during a four-year period from 2021 to 2024:

  • CONMEBOL and UEFA (more than four slots): access for the winners of the confederation's top club competition between 2021 and 2024, with additional teams to be determined by a club ranking of the four-year period
  • AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF (four slots each): access for the winners of the confederation's top club competition between 2021 and 2024[note 1]
  • OFC (one slot): access for the highest-ranked club among the winners of the confederation's top club competition between 2021 and 2024[note 2]
  • Host country (one slot): To be determined at a later stage

If a club wins two or more seasons of their confederation's top club competition, additional teams will be determined by a club ranking of the four-year period. A restriction of two clubs per association will be applied, with an exception for champion clubs if more than two clubs from the same association win their confederation's top club competition. The calculation method for the four-year club rankings within each confederation will be based on sporting criteria during seasons completed between 2021 and 2024, and will be finalized after consultation with confederations and stakeholders.[22]

Based on the access list, the following teams have qualified for the tournament:[23][24][25]

Confederation Team(s) Qualification Qualified date(s) Participation
AFC (4 slots) Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal Winners of the 2021 AFC Champions League March 14, 2023[note 3] 4th (Previous: 2019, 2021, 2022)
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds Winners of the 2022 AFC Champions League May 6, 2023 4th (Previous: 2007, 2017, 2023)
TBD Winners of the 2023–24 AFC Champions League[note 4] May 18, 2024
TBD Best eligible team in the AFC 4-year ranking[note 5]
CAF (4 slots) Egypt Al Ahly Winners of the 2020–21 and 2022–23 CAF Champions League March 14, 2023[note 3] 10th (Previous: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Morocco Wydad Casablanca Winners of the 2021–22 CAF Champions League March 14, 2023[note 3] 3rd (Previous: 2017, 2022)
TBD Winners of the 2023–24 CAF Champions League[note 4] May 26, 2024
TBD Best eligible team in the CAF 4-year ranking[note 6]
CONCACAF (4 slots) Mexico Monterrey Winners of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League March 14, 2023[note 3] 6th (Previous: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021)
United States Seattle Sounders FC Winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League March 14, 2023[note 3] 2nd (Previous: 2022)
Mexico León Winners of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League June 4, 2023 2nd (Previous: 2023)
TBD Winners of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup[note 4] June 2, 2024
CONMEBOL (6 slots) Brazil Palmeiras Winners of the 2021 Copa Libertadores March 14, 2023[note 3] 3rd (Previous: 2020, 2021)
Brazil Flamengo Winners of the 2022 Copa Libertadores March 14, 2023[note 3] 3rd (Previous: 2019, 2022)
Brazil Fluminense Winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores November 4, 2023 2nd (Previous: 2023)
TBD Winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores[note 4] November 30, 2024
TBD Best eligible team in the CONMEBOL 4-year ranking
TBD Second-best eligible team in the CONMEBOL 4-year ranking
OFC (1 slot) New Zealand Auckland City Best OFC Champions League winners in the OFC 4-year ranking[note 2] December 17, 2023 12th (Previous: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023)
UEFA (12 slots) England Chelsea Winners of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League March 14, 2023[note 3] 3rd (Previous: 2012, 2021)
Spain Real Madrid Winners of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League March 14, 2023[note 3] 7th (Previous: 2000, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)
England Manchester City Winners of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League June 10, 2023 2nd (Previous: 2023)
TBD Winners of the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League[note 4] June 1, 2024
Germany Bayern Munich UEFA 4-year ranking[note 7] December 17, 2023 3rd (Previous: 2013, 2020)
France Paris Saint-Germain UEFA 4-year ranking[note 7] December 17, 2023 1st
Italy Inter Milan UEFA 4-year ranking[note 7] December 17, 2023 2nd (Previous: 2010)
Portugal Porto UEFA 4-year ranking[note 7] December 17, 2023 1st
Portugal Benfica UEFA 4-year ranking[note 7] December 17, 2023 1st
Germany TBD[note 8] UEFA 4-year ranking 1st
Italy TBD[note 9] UEFA 4-year ranking 1st
Spain TBD[note 10] UEFA 4-year ranking
CONCACAF (host) (1 slot) United States TBD TBD 1st

Notes

  1. ↑ As the AFC Champions League was shifted from an intra-year schedule to an inter-year schedule starting from 2023–24, only three seasons of the AFC Champions League will be completed within the consideration period of 2021 to 2024. As a result, the remaining slot will be allocated using the four-year club ranking.
  2. 1 2 As the 2021 OFC Champions League was cancelled, the slot was awarded to the best club in the OFC's four-year ranking that won the competition between 2022 and 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The participation of the teams was confirmed on March 14, 2023, with the approval of the access list. However, the teams won the competitions that eventually qualified them for the Club World Cup on the following dates: Al-Hilal (November 23, 2021), Al Ahly (July 17, 2021), Wydad Casablanca (May 30, 2022), Monterrey (October 28, 2021), Seattle Sounders FC (May 4, 2022), Palmeiras (November 27, 2021), Flamengo (October 29, 2022), Chelsea (May 29, 2021), Real Madrid (May 28, 2022).
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 If the winners of the competition also won an earlier season of the competition during the consideration period (2021–2024), the spot would be redistributed to the next best eligible team in the confederation's four-year ranking.
  5. ↑ Contenders for this spot are Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (66 points), Ulsan HD (55 points), Kawasaki Frontale (52 points), Pohang Steelers (49 points), Al Nassr (43 points), and Yokohama F. Marinos (31 points). They are also in the 2023–24 AFC Champions League knockout stage and two of these teams can qualify, if one of them or previous edition champions win the 2023–24 AFC Champions League.
  6. ↑ As Al Ahly won two editions of the CAF Champions League during the consideration period, one spot will be redistributed to the best eligible team in the CAF's four-year ranking.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Five eligible teams qualified on December 17, 2023, when the qualifying procedure was confirmed. The teams are those which are both guaranteed a place in the top eight and which cannot be made ineligible by being passed by two teams from their own federation.
  8. ↑ Another German team is guaranteed to qualify, either through victory in the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League or via the UEFA 4-year ranking (Borussia Dortmund or RB Leipzig).
  9. ↑ Another Italian team is guaranteed to qualify, either through victory in the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League (Lazio or Napoli) or via the UEFA 4-year ranking (Juventus, Lazio, or Napoli).
  10. ↑ Another Spanish team is guaranteed to qualify, either through victory in the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League (Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, or Real Sociedad) or via the UEFA 4-year ranking (Atlético Madrid or Barcelona).

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2022 praised for its "unique cohesive power"". FIFA.com. FIFA. December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  2. ↑ Lowy, Zach (January 30, 2023). "Soccer 101: FIFA Club World Cup". St. Louis City SC. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  3. ↑ "FIFA boss suggests 32-team Club World Cup in 2019". CBC Sports. Associated Press. November 18, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  4. ↑ "FIFA considering 24-team Club World Cup to be played in summer". ESPN. Associated Press. October 31, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  5. ↑ "FIFA Council votes for the introduction of a revamped FIFA Club World Cup". FIFA. March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Fifa Club World Cup: Revised tournament approved despite top European clubs saying they will boycott". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ "FIFA Council unanimously appoints China PR as hosts of new Club World Cup in 2021". FIFA. October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  8. ↑ Ames, Doha (December 16, 2022). "Gianni Infantino announces 32-team men's Club World Cup in 2025". The Guardian. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  9. ↑ Olley, James (December 16, 2022). "FIFA to launch new Club World Cup format with 32 teams in 2025". ESPN. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  10. ↑ "FIFA Council appoints United States as host of new and expanded FIFA Club World Cup". FIFA. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  11. ↑ "United States to host expanded 32-team Club World Cup in 2025". ESPN. Associated Press. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  12. ↑ "FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Dates, format and qualifiers". FIFA. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ Evans, Jayda (December 16, 2022). "Sounders will travel to Morocco for Club World Cup in February". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  14. ↑ Grohmann, Karolos (December 16, 2022). "Club World Cup to feature 32 teams in 2025, says FIFA president Infantino". Reuters. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  15. ↑ Olley, James (December 16, 2022). "FIFA to launch new Club World Cup format with 32 teams in 2025". ESPN. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Spanish league attacks FIFA's plan for bigger Club World Cup". The Washington Post. Associated Press. December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  17. ↑ "FIFA accused of prioritising own interests after revealing Club World Cup plans". One Football.com. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  18. ↑ "FIFA anuncia Copa Intercontinental" (in Spanish). PSN en Linea.com. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Details of New-look Club World Cup Emerge and Not Everyone Likes It". Front Office Sport.com. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Controversy Surrounds FIFA's 2025 Club World Cup Expansion". Archysport.com. December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  21. ↑ "FIFA Council highlights record breaking revenue in football". FIFA. February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  22. 1 2 "FIFA Council approves international match calendars". FIFA. March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  23. ↑ "All six continents assured places at expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup". FIFA. March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  24. ↑ "FIFA Council confirms key details for FIFA Club World Cup 2025". FIFA. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Club World Cup 2025: How qualification works & list of qualified teams | Goal.com India". www.goal.com. December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
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