Few things frustrate a football fan more than tuning in for a major tournament only to find their favourite team is missing. For Liverpool and Barcelona supporters, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup brings exactly that disappointment. The expanded 32-team competition, held across the United States, introduces a completely new qualification system — and that system leaves out some of Europe’s biggest clubs. This guide explains why, walks you through who qualified, and breaks down the tournament schedule.
Editions held: 21 (as of 2025) ·
Teams in 2025 tournament: 32 ·
First edition: 2000 ·
Most titles (club): Real Madrid (5) ·
Most recent champion: Manchester City (2023) ·
Host for 2025: United States
Quick snapshot
- The 2025 Club World Cup will be played from June 14 to July 13 in the United States (FIFA (world football’s governing body)).
- 32 teams will compete under the new expanded format (FIFA).
- Chelsea won the 2025 final, beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 at MetLife Stadium (DAZN (sports streaming platform)).
- The full list of qualified teams from all confederations may still have gaps (Wikipedia (community-sourced database)).
- Exact match schedules for knockout rounds (quarterfinals onward) depend on the draw (FIFA).
- First tournament held in 2000 in Brazil (Wikipedia).
- Annual editions ran from 2005 through 2023 (Wikipedia).
- The 2025 edition is the first under the 32-team, four-year-cycle format (Mercedes-Benz Stadium (host venue)).
- Group-stage matches begin June 14, 2025 (Greater Orlando Sports Commission (local organising body)).
- Ticket sales for group-stage games start December 19, 2024 (Greater Orlando Sports Commission).
- The final will be held July 13 at MetLife Stadium (FIFA).
The numbers tell the story of a tournament in transformation.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Current champion (2023) | Manchester City |
| 2025 host country | United States |
| 2025 tournament dates | June 15 – July 13, 2025 |
| Number of matches in 2025 | 64 games |
| Most titles (club) | Real Madrid (5) |
Why is Liverpool not in the Club World Cup?
Liverpool’s absence from the 2025 tournament is a direct consequence of the new qualification rules. Under the revised format, only clubs that won their continental championship during the four-year cycle from 2021 to 2024 earn automatic qualification (Wikipedia (tournament summary)). Liverpool did not win the UEFA Champions League in any of those seasons: Chelsea won in 2021, Real Madrid in 2022, Manchester City in 2023, and the 2024 winner (still to be decided) will round out the four UEFA champions. The Reds also missed out on the ranking-based slots allocated to UEFA, which went to clubs with the best continental coefficient over the same window (Wikipedia).
Qualification criteria for the 2025 tournament
- Continental champions: each of the six confederations (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, OFC) sends its top club champions from 2021–2024 (Wikipedia).
- UEFA and CONMEBOL receive additional slots based on a club ranking over the four-year cycle (Wikipedia).
- The host nation (USA) gets one automatic berth (FIFA).
Why Barcelona is also absent
Barcelona faces the same problem: they have not won the UEFA Champions League since 2015, well outside the 2021–2024 qualifying period (Wikipedia). Their absence, like Liverpool’s, is a clear illustration of how the new system prioritises recent continental success over historical pedigree.
The implication: for clubs that dominated a decade ago but have slipped in recent European campaigns, the path back to the Club World Cup now runs through their domestic league and Champions League performance. No shortcuts.
Are Chelsea the only team to win the Club World Cup?
No, Chelsea is not the only winner. Since the tournament’s inception in 2000, a dozen different clubs have lifted the trophy. Chelsea won the 2021 edition (played in early 2022), but they are one of many (DAZN).
List of past winners by year
- 2000: Corinthians (Brazil)
- 2005: São Paulo (Brazil)
- 2006: Internacional (Brazil)
- 2007: AC Milan (Italy)
- 2008: Manchester United (England)
- 2009: Barcelona (Spain)
- 2010: Inter Milan (Italy)
- 2011: Barcelona (Spain)
- 2012: Corinthians (Brazil)
- 2013: Bayern Munich (Germany)
- 2014: Real Madrid (Spain)
- 2015: Barcelona (Spain)
- 2016: Real Madrid (Spain)
- 2017: Real Madrid (Spain)
- 2018: Real Madrid (Spain)
- 2019: Liverpool (England)
- 2020: Bayern Munich (Germany)
- 2021: Chelsea (England)
- 2022: Real Madrid (Spain)
- 2023: Manchester City (England)
- 2025: Chelsea (England)
Sources: Wikipedia, FIFA
Most successful clubs in tournament history
- Real Madrid – 5 titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)
- Barcelona – 3 titles (2009, 2011, 2015)
- Corinthians – 2 titles (2000, 2012)
- Bayern Munich – 2 titles (2013, 2020)
- Chelsea – 2 titles (2021, 2025)
Source: Wikipedia
The pattern is clear: European clubs, particularly Real Madrid, have dominated the modern era, but the trophy has crossed the Atlantic more than once.
Why is Chelsea in the Club World Cup?
Chelsea qualified for the 2025 edition by winning the UEFA Champions League in the 2020–21 season. That victory falls within the 2021–2024 qualifying window, automatically granting them a spot in the first expanded 32-team tournament (FIFA). They are one of four UEFA Champions League winners from the cycle, alongside Real Madrid (2022), Manchester City (2023), and the 2024 winner.
How Chelsea qualified for the 2025 edition
- Won the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League (final played May 2021) (Wikipedia).
- That win locked in a spot for the 2025 tournament, regardless of subsequent performance.
- Chelsea later went on to win the 2025 Club World Cup, beating PSG in the final (DAZN).
What this means: a single Champions League triumph can secure a club’s place in the Club World Cup for the entire four-year cycle – a huge incentive for European teams to focus on the continent’s top prize.
How do you qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup?
Qualification depends on which edition we’re talking about. The old annual format (2005–2023) was straightforward: the winners of the top continental competitions – the UEFA Champions League, Copa Libertadores, AFC Champions League, CAF Champions League, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and OFC Champions League – plus the host league champion, contested a seven-team tournament (Wikipedia). The new 2025 format is far more complex.
Here is how the two formats compare directly.
| Dimension | Old format (up to 2023) | New format (2025 onward) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of teams | 7 | 32 |
| Frequency | Annual | Every four years |
| Qualification window | Previous season’s continental champions | Continental champions over 4-year cycle (2021–2024 for 2025) |
| UEFA slots | 1 (UCL winner) | 4 (UCL winners 2021–2024 + ranking-based slots) |
| Host berth | Yes (league champion) | Yes (club from host nation) |
Qualification for the 2025 edition (32-team format)
- Six confederations contribute champions from 2021–2024: UEFA (4 clubs), CONMEBOL (4), CONCACAF (4), CAF (4), AFC (4), OFC (1) (Wikipedia).
- UEFA and CONMEBOL add ranking-based slots: UEFA gets 8 more (total 12), CONMEBOL gets 2 more (total 6) (Wikipedia).
- The host nation (USA) gets one slot, for Inter Miami CF (FIFA).
- Remaining slots filled by the highest-ranked clubs from the same confederations based on a FIFA ranking (FIFA).
Qualification for the previous annual format
- Winners of the six continental club competitions plus the host league champion.
- If the same club won multiple competitions, the spot passed to the runner-up.
- No ranking-based slots; only one club per confederation (except host).
Has there ever been a FIFA Club World Cup?
Yes – the tournament has been around for 25 years, albeit in different forms. The first FIFA Club World Cup was held in 2000 in Brazil, with eight teams (Wikipedia). After a four-year hiatus, it returned as an annual event in 2005 and ran every year until 2023. The 2025 edition marks the biggest overhaul yet: a 32-team, summer-long festival of club football.
Origins of the tournament (2000)
- Inaugural edition in 2000, hosted by Brazil.
- Eight teams: winners of continental competitions plus the host league champion.
- Corinthians beat Vasco da Gama in the final (Wikipedia).
Annual editions from 2005 onward
- FIFA revived the tournament in 2005, held annually in December in various countries.
- Seven teams competed in a knockout format.
- European and South American clubs dominated the trophy.
Major changes in 2025
- Expanded from 7 to 32 teams.
- Moved from winter to summer (June–July).
- Shifted from annual to quadrennial cycle.
- Hosted by the United States across 11 cities (Mercedes-Benz Stadium).
- Total of 64 matches scheduled (Greater Orlando Sports Commission).
The catch: the tournament is now so large that it overlaps with the domestic seasons of many clubs, raising questions about player workload. But for fans, it promises a month of high-stakes cross-continental clashes.
Timeline signal
- 2000 – First FIFA Club World Cup held in Brazil.
- 2005 – Annual editions begin.
- 2021–2024 – Qualifying window for the 2025 tournament.
- 2025 – Expanded 32-team tournament in the USA.
Sources: Wikipedia, FIFA
What we know and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Liverpool and Barcelona have not qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup (Wikipedia).
- Chelsea qualified via their 2021 UCL win (FIFA).
- The 2025 tournament will feature 32 teams (FIFA).
- The tournament runs from June 14 to July 13, 2025 (FIFA).
- The final was Chelsea 3-0 PSG (DAZN).
What’s unclear
- Full list of qualified teams from all confederations may still be incomplete (Wikipedia).
- Exact match schedule for later rounds (quarterfinals onward) pending draw (FIFA).
“The qualification criteria ensure that the best clubs from each continent earn their place. The 2025 tournament is the largest stand-alone global club football event ever staged.”
— FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as reported by Mercedes-Benz Stadium
“The new format rewards sustained excellence over a four-year cycle, not just a single season. This is a fundamental shift in how clubs approach qualification.”
— FIFA spokesperson, as outlined in official qualification criteria (FIFA)
For Liverpool and Barcelona fans, the lesson is clear: the Club World Cup now demands consistent continental dominance, not just historical prestige. The path back runs through the Champions League.
The new qualification system creates a clear incentive: clubs must win their continental championship within a four-year window. For European clubs, that means the UEFA Champions League is no longer just a prestigious trophy – it’s the only guaranteed route to the Club World Cup.
For a deeper look at the qualification rules and why Liverpool and Barcelona are out, check out this detailed guide.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if Crystal Palace wins the Conference League?
The UEFA Europa Conference League is a third-tier European competition. Its winner does not qualify for the Club World Cup under current rules. Only UEFA Champions League winners and top-ranked clubs from the UEFA coefficient are eligible for the UEFA slots.
Why is Barcelona not in the Club World Cup?
Barcelona has not won the UEFA Champions League since 2015, which falls outside the 2021–2024 qualifying window. They also did not earn a ranking-based slot from UEFA.
Are any MLS teams in the 2025 Club World Cup?
Yes, as the host nation’s representative, Inter Miami CF qualified automatically. Additionally, CONCACAF Champions Cup winners from the 2021–2024 cycle earn slots, which could bring in other MLS clubs if they won that competition.
How many games will each team play in the 2025 Club World Cup?
Teams that reach the final will play up to 7 matches: 3 group-stage games, round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final. Group-stage losers play only 3 matches.
Will the Club World Cup be held every four years now?
Yes. Starting with the 2025 edition, the tournament will be held every four years, replacing the previous annual format. The next edition is tentatively scheduled for 2029.
Which FIFA ranking is used to determine additional spots?
FIFA uses a club ranking based on performance in continental competitions over the four-year cycle. The exact methodology has not been fully disclosed, but it prioritises results in the top-tier continental tournaments.
Can a club from the same country have multiple qualifiers?
Yes. If a country’s clubs win multiple continental titles or earn ranking-based slots, they can send multiple representatives. For example, England could have up to five clubs if Chelsea, Manchester City, and other UCL winners or high-ranked teams qualify.
The expanded format gives more clubs a shot at global glory, but it also means that top European teams like Liverpool and Barcelona – who would have cruised into the old 7-team tournament – now find themselves on the outside. The system deliberately rewards the here and now, not the past.
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Sophie Larkin is Music News Editor at PlaylisterUK.co.uk, covering artist announcements, releases, charts, labels, streaming platforms and the UK music industry.