Chelsea, Real Madrid qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, as Arsenal, Barcelona, Liverpool misses out on list
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FIFA Club World Cup 2025 || Credit: Imago

Chelsea, Real Madrid qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, as Arsenal, Barcelona, Liverpool misses out on list

Stephen Oladehinde 12:09 - 18.12.2023

In 2025, the FIFA Club World Cup will undergo a significant transformation, expanding to include 32 teams from across the globe.

This prestigious tournament, scheduled from June 15 to July 13, will be hosted in the United States, promising almost a month of high-calibre football showcasing the world's best clubs. 

As the competition draws near, 19 teams have already secured their places, representing a diverse range of footballing powerhouses from different continents. The event promises to be a spectacular display of international club football, as reported by MLSsoccer

As of now, 19 teams have secured their spots through various pathways. Here's a breakdown of the qualified teams and the regions they represent:

Africa (4 Teams)

  • Al Ahly (Egypt): Qualified through the 2020-21 & 2022-23 CAF Champions League.
  • Wydad AC (Morocco): Qualified through the 2021-22 CAF Champions League.
  • Two more teams are to be confirmed.
Al Ahly (Egypt) || Credit: Imago
Al Ahly (Egypt) || Credit: Imago

Asia (4 Teams)

  • Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia): Qualified through the 2021 AFC Champions League.
  • Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan): Qualified through the 2022 AFC Champions League.
  • Two more teams are to be confirmed.

Europe (12 Teams)

  • Chelsea (England): Qualified through the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League.
  • Real Madrid (Spain): Qualified through the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League.
  • Manchester City (England): Qualified through the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.
  • Bayern München (Germany), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Inter Milan (Italy), FC Porto and SL Benfica (Portugal): Qualified through the UEFA ranking pathway.
  • Three more teams to be confirmed.
Real Madrid || Credit: Imago
Real Madrid || Credit: Imago

North & Central America, Caribbean (5 Teams)

  • CF Monterrey (Mexico): Qualified through the 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup.
  • Seattle Sounders FC (USA): Qualified through the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup.
  • Club León (Mexico): Qualified through the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup.
  • One more team from the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup and one host nation club to be confirmed.

South America (6 Teams)

  • Palmeiras, Flamengo, and Fluminense (Brazil): Qualified through the Copa Libertadores (2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively).
  • One more team from the 2024 Copa Libertadores and two more teams through the ranking pathway to be confirmed.
Fluminense || Credit: Imago
Fluminense || Credit: Imago

Oceania (1 Team)

  • Auckland City (New Zealand): qualified through the Oceania ranking pathway.

Tournament Format

According to MLSsoccer, The tournament will follow a group stage format, featuring eight groups with four teams each. Teams will compete in a single-game round-robin format within their groups. 

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16, leading to a single-match knockout stage up to the final. Notably, there will be no third-place playoff in this edition of the tournament​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.

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