The new FIFA Club World Cup format, set to launch in 2025, was designed to address multiple challenges facing the tournament and meet evolving demands in global club football.
FIFA, the organizer of the event, felt the competition was a limited scope, with only seven teams made of continental champions competing therein annually.
As a result, the tournament often led to lopsided matchups, particularly between European powerhouses and clubs from smaller footballing continents.
Since winning their first with AC Milan in 2007, European teams have won all but one of the editions of the tournament, in 2012 when English side Chelsea lost the final match to Corinthians in Japan.
The European clubs took what was designed to be clash of the heavyweights as a mere minor competition rather than the competitive one targeted by the Federation.
FIFA’s decision to expand the tournament to 32 teams aims to remedy this by including more of the world’s top clubs, creating more mouthwatering fixtures and a higher level of competition.
How it started – The New FIFA Club World Cup Format
The new FIFA Club World Cup format was first suggested in 2018 by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This proposal came in response to growing demands from top European clubs and the need for a more lucrative tournament.
The Swiss-Italian football administrator envisioned a tournament that would rival the World Cup, involving 24 to 32 teams from across the globe.
The idea gained traction as FIFA sought to address the commercial potential of club football, with a more inclusive competition expected to enhance global visibility, increase revenue, and boost the tournament’s prestige.
The proposition was accepted and incorporated into the Federations calendar. 2025 was then agreed as the year to kick it off as the new FIFA Club World Cup.
Aims of the New FIFA Club World Cup
With creating a competitive tournament the primary objective of FIFA, the move is also aimed at increasing commercial influence of top clubs around the world, especially those from Europe, who have long advocated for a more prestigious and financially rewarding competition.
The creation of this expanded FIFA Club World Cup tournament also helps the Federation defeat the threat posed by the proposed European Super League as it keeps team engaged, leaving little or no time for a breakaway competition.
With more clubs involved, FIFA also hopes to boost TV rights, sponsorships, and fan engagement on a global scale, mirroring the success of other major international tournaments like the World Cup while increasing their own revenue and generating more for the clubs involved.
Explaining The New FIFA Club World Cup Format
The new FIFA Club World Cup tournament include 32 top club sides from Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and other regions, replacing the former system of just continental champions.
The format will consist of a group stage, of which each will comprise of four teams, with the group members squaring up in round robin style before the top two in each group progress to the knockout rounds – round 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.
How Teams Qualify for New FIFA Club World Cup
There are two primary ways of securing qualification for the new FIFA Club World Cup, first is by winning a continental title in the past four seasons, and the other is entry through FIFA’s ranking system.
The six regional champions in each of the previous four seasons under UEFA, AFC, CAF, CONCACAAF, CONMEBOL and OFC all earned automatic slots. They are joined by others who ranks in a selection place in FIFA’s ranking system.
Each confederation is allocated a certain number of slots within the 32-club system. As expected, it is Europe that has been allocated the most slots with 12, while South America followed with six. Africa, Asia and North America have four slots each to total 30.
Of the remaining two, one has been reserved for OFC and the host continent takes the one remaining slot.
Participants of FIFA Club World Cup 2025
UEFA has produced three different winners in the last four seasons, with Real Madrid winning the title twice in that period, in 2022 and 2024. Manchester City and Chelsea joined Los Blancos as continental champions from Europe.
Also showcasing in 2025 are Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Inter Milan, PSG, Benfica, FC Porto and RB Salzburg, who have all earned their spots through the UEFA’s ranking pathway.
Unfortunate for the likes of Barcelona, Liverpool and Arsenal, who are positioned higher than some of the qualified names on the UEFA ranking, the new FIFA Club World Cup rule limits the maximum number of clubs from a single country to two, unless qualification is earned through winning the continental title.
Teams who Qualified by Winning their Continental Cups – Holders of FIFA Club World Cup Tickets
- Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
- Wydad Casablanca (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
- Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League
- Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League
- Al Ain (UAE) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League
- Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
- Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
- Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
- Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Club Leon (MEX) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Pachuca (MEX) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- Botafogo (BRA) – 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Qualifiers Through FIFA Ranking Pathway – Holders of FIFA Club World Cup Tickets
- Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA
- Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA
- Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA
- FC Porto (POR) – UEFA
- Benfica Lisbon (POR) – UEFA
- Borussia Dortmund (GER) – UEFA
- Juventus (ITA) – UEFA
- Atletico Madrid (ESP) – UEFA
- FC Salzburg (AUT) – UEFA
- Auckland City (NZL) – OFC
- Ulsan HD FC (KOR) – AFC
- ES Tunis (TUN) – CAF
- Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) – CAF
- River Plate (ARG) – CONMEBOL
- Boca Juniors (ARG) – CONMEBOL
Who is FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Host?
Why will Lionel Messi Play in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
Inter Miami of the Major League Soccer, MLS has been recognized as the official FIFA Club World Cup 2025 host as the tournament will be played in the United States.
This answers the question about Lionel Messi taking part in the competition. The Argentine, alongside his former teammates in Barcelona, Lius Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and their new coach Javier Mascherano will all be at the tournament.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group Draw
- Group A : Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
- Group B : PSG, Atletico Madrid, Seattle Sounders, Botafogo.
- Group C : Bayern, Benfica, Boca Juniors, Auckland City.
- Group D : Flamengo, Chelsea, Club Leon, Es Tunis.
- Group E : Monterrey, Urawa Reds, River Plate, Inter Milan.
- Group F : Ulsan HD, Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense, Mamelodi Sundowns.
- Group G : Manchester City, Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain, Juventus.
- Group H : Real Madrid, Pachuca, Al-Hilal, Red Bull Salzburg.
How often will the New FIFA Club World Cup be held?
Is the FIFA Club World Cup played every year?
The new FIFA Club World Cup tournament will be played once in every four years just like the FIFA World Cup for national teams. It is a complete change from the previous annual competition, which only allows seven teams.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Venues
FIFA already has announced twelve venues for the 2025 Club World Cup, ten of which are on the East Coast of the United States, as announced by the president, Gianni Infantino in September. They are;
- The Rose Bowl, Los Angeles
- Lumen Field, Seattle
- Camping World Stadium, Orlando
- Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- GEODIS Park, Nashville
- Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
- TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
- Audi Field, Washington
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
New FIFA Club World Cup Trophy
New FIFA Club World Cup Trophy was designed by FIFA and crafted in collaboration with Tiffany & Co., one of the world’s leading luxury jewelers based in the United States.
With a 24-carat gold-plated finish, the design of the new FIFA Club World Cup Trophy is bold, luxurious and worthy of a champion. Images and text from the sport’s rich history are engraved all over the rings of the trophy. The names of the 211 country members of FIFA are also listed.
Official Sponsor of FIFA Club World Cup 2025
So far, FIFA has announced Bank of America as the official partner of the tournament. More sponsors are expected before kickoff next summer.
When will the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 start?
The tournament will kick off on June 15, and conclude four weeks later on July 13. The venue for the final has also been known, and it will take place at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.
Hassan Afolabi
2 Comments
thank you for the insight, OLT
HF writes so well!
Olt for sure well detailed analysis,Hassan Afolabi you are sighted as well.Ride on guys