FIFA confirm USA to host new-look expanded 32-team Club World Cup
The United States will host a newly revamped 32-team FIFA Club World Cup starting in 2025.
Fifa’s president Gianni Infantino had previously confirmed this expansion and new format before the 2022 World Cup final. Among those participating will be 12 European clubs, including the Champions League winners from 2021-24, meaning Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City have already qualified.
The remaining clubs will be determined by a ranking based on the same four-year period. Elsewhere the other 20 slots will consist of six CONMEBOL clubs, including the Copa Libertadores winners between 2021 and 2024; four CONCACAF teams, in principle the 2021-24 Champions League winners; four clubs each from CAF and AFC, also based on the respective Champions League winners; one from OFC – the highest-ranked club from its 2021-24 Champions League winners; and one from the host country.
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“The Fifa Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of elite professional men’s club football. With the required infrastructure in place together with a massive local interest, the United States is the ideal host to kick off this new, global tournament,” Infantino said during the FIFA Council meeting. The 21st edition of the FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled to be played in June and July 2025.
It will be a busy few years for the United States as they’re set to host a 16-time Copa America in 2024 and 48-team World Cup (along with Canada and Mexico) in 2026.
FIFPRO, a global union of professional players, have criticised FIFA’s proposal citing player welfare due to the added fixtures in an already congested playing calendar. However, to quell any lingering fears, the plan is for the competition to be played every four years instead of it being a yearly event.
Who has qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?
So far 12 clubs have booked their spot with a yet-to-be-announced host team. There’s also the proviso that if a club wins two or more seasons of their confederation’s top club competition, additional teams will be determined by a club ranking over the four-year period. On top of that, 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.
AFC (four slots)
- Al-Hilal – Winners of the 2021 AFC Champions League
- Urawa Red Diamonds – Winners of the 2022 AFC Champions League
- TBD – Winners of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League
- TBD – Best eligible team in AFC 4-year ranking
CAF (four slots)
- Al Ahly – Winners of the 2020/21 and 2022/23 CAF Champions League
- Wydad Casablanca – Winners of the 2021/22 CAF Champions League
- TBD – Winners of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League
- TBD – Best eligible team in CAF 4-year ranking
CONCACAF (four slots)
- Monterrey – Winners of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League
- Seattle Sounders – Winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League
- León – Winners of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League
- TBD – Winners of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup
CONMEBOL (six slots)
- Palmeiras – Winners of the 2021 Copa Libertadores
- Flamengo – Winners of the 2022 Copa Libertadores
- TBD – Winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores
- TBD – Winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores
- TBD – Best eligible team in CONMEBOL 4-year ranking
- TBD – Second-best eligible team in CONMEBOL 4-year ranking
OFC (one slot)
- TBD – Best OFC Champions League winner in OFC 4-year ranking
UEFA (12 slots)
- Chelsea – Winners of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
- Real Madrid – Winners of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League
- Manchester City – Winners of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
- TBD – Winners of the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League
- TBD – Best eligible team in UEFA 4-year ranking
- TBD – Second-best eligible team in UEFA 4-year ranking
- TBD – Third-best eligible team in UEFA 4-year ranking
- TBD – Fourth-best eligible team in UEFA 4-year ranking
- TBD – Fifth-best eligible team in UEFA 4-year ranking
- TBD – Sixth-best eligible team in UEFA 4-year ranking
- TBD – Seventh-best eligible team in UEFA 4-year ranking
- TBD – Eighth-best eligible team in UEFA 4-year ranking
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The final tournament played under Fifa’s current format takes place in Saudi Arabia this December with Man City seeking to become England’s fourth different winner after Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s men will enter in the semi-finals alongside the 2023 Copa Libertadores winners. Auckland City (OFC) and hosts Al-Ittihad start their respective campaigns in the first round. Urawa Red Diamonds (AFC), Al Ahly (CAF) and León (CONCACAF) will then join in the next round.
Real Madrid is the competition’s most successful club with five titles. Guardiola himself is a three-time winner having won twice as Barcelona manager (2009 and 2011) and once more in charge of Bayern Munich (2013).
