If you’ve been scanning the list of teams for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, you might have noticed some glaring gaps. Barcelona, Liverpool, and Arsenal—clubs with massive global followings—are absent, while Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid made the cut. The reason comes down to a qualification system built on UEFA coefficient rankings from 2021 to 2024, combined with a strict two-club-per-country limit.

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Number of teams in 2025: 32 ·
UEFA slots (Europe): 12 ·
First edition: 2000 ·
Defending champion: Manchester City (2023) ·
2025 host country: United States

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has 32 teams hosted in the United States (Wikipedia)
  • UEFA allocated 12 slots, CONMEBOL 6, AFC/CAF/CONCACAF 4 each, OFC 1 (The Independent)
  • Manchester City and Chelsea qualified via Champions League wins (The Independent)
2What’s unclear
  • Whether a 2026 Club World Cup will be held (likely next in 2029) (The Independent)
  • If the tournament will eventually expand to 48 teams (The Independent)
  • Which US team will take the host nation slot (Inter Miami qualified via Supporters’ Shield, but host slot process remains ambiguous) (The Independent)
3Timeline signal
  • First expanded 32-team Club World Cup scheduled for June–July 2025 in the USA (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Final qualification spots determined by 2024–25 season results (Goal.com)
  • FIFA reportedly considering rule changes for 2029 to prevent top club absences (World Soccer Talk)

The table below outlines the key facts about the tournament.

Six key facts about the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Attribute Detail
Full name FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Number of teams 32
Host country United States
Tournament dates June – July 2025
Defending champion Manchester City (2023)
Qualification period 2021–2024 (UEFA coefficient)

Why don’t Barcelona, Liverpool, and Arsenal participate in the Club World Cup?

What is the UEFA coefficient qualification requirement?

Qualification for the 2025 Club World Cup considered performance in UEFA club competitions from the 2021–22 to 2023–24 seasons (Goal.com). Only the top eight European clubs in the UEFA coefficient ranking earned a spot under the regular rules, but two of the twelve UEFA slots went to Champions League winners Manchester City (2023) and Chelsea (2021) (The Independent).

Additionally, FIFA enforced a maximum of two clubs per national association unless more than two won continental titles (Flashscore).

Which European clubs qualified for 2025?

  • England (2): Manchester City, Chelsea
  • Spain (2): Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid
  • France (1): Paris Saint-Germain
  • Germany (1): Bayern Munich
  • Italy (1): Inter Milan
  • Other slots taken by ranking-based qualifiers like Benfica and Salzburg
The upshot

Barcelona, despite winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey in 2023, ranked 13th in the UEFA coefficient because of early Champions League exits. Liverpool finished 9th, Arsenal ranked outside the top ten. The two-club-per-nation rule sealed their fate.

The implication: England and Spain’s Champions League winners consumed the two available slots per country, leaving no room for third-ranked sides like Liverpool or Barcelona.

What are the conditions to participate in the Club World Cup?

How many teams per confederation?

The 2025 tournament features 32 teams with slots distributed by confederation: UEFA (Europe) has 12, CONMEBOL (South America) 6, AFC (Asia) 4, CAF (Africa) 4, CONCACAF (North America) 4, OFC (Oceania) 1, plus one slot for the host nation (The Independent).

What is the host nation slot?

Inter Miami qualified as the host nation’s Supporters’ Shield winner, bringing Lionel Messi to the tournament (The Independent). The host slot is awarded to the best performing US club based on league results.

Why this matters

Host nation slots often become political. Inter Miami’s qualification via the Supporters’ Shield (not MLS Cup) raised eyebrows, but it guarantees the world’s biggest star—Messi—appears on American soil.

The pattern: Slot allocation rewards confederation strength, but the host slot creates a wildcard for the local market.

Why is PSG qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup?

PSG’s UEFA coefficient ranking

PSG ranked inside the top eight of the UEFA coefficient ranking for the 2021–2024 period, thanks to consistent deep runs in the Champions League (semi-finals in 2020, quarter-finals in 2024) and multiple Ligue 1 titles. This earned them one of the 12 European slots (The Independent).

PSG’s recent performances

During the qualification cycle, PSG advanced beyond the group stage every season and reached the semi-finals in 2020. Although they haven’t won the Champions League, their consistent coefficient points outpaced rivals like Lyon and Marseille (Goal.com).

The catch: PSG’s financial strength has not translated into European silverware, but coefficient rankings reward participation and advancement, not just titles.

Why does Atlético Madrid participate in the 2025 Club World Cup?

Atlético’s coefficient ranking

Atlético Madrid ranked inside the top eight of the UEFA coefficient, while Barcelona ranked 13th (World Soccer Talk). Atlético’s consistent deep runs in the Champions League and Europa League over 2021–2024 secured their spot.

Why Barcelona didn’t qualify but Atlético did

Barcelona’s early exits from the Champions League (group stage in 2021–22 and 2022–23) hurt their coefficient score. Meanwhile, Atlético reached the Champions League quarter-finals twice and the Europa League semi-finals (Flashscore).

The trade-off: Barcelona’s domestic treble weight doesn’t carry over into UEFA coefficient calculations—only continental results matter.

Who will participate in the Club World Cup?

UEFA (Europe) teams

  • Manchester City (England) – 2023 Champions League winner
  • Chelsea (England) – 2021 Champions League winner
  • Real Madrid (Spain) – 2022 & 2024 Champions League winner (The Independent)
  • Paris Saint-Germain (France)
  • Atlético Madrid (Spain)
  • Bayern Munich (Germany)
  • Inter Milan (Italy)
  • Plus others based on ranking (Benfica, Salzburg, etc.)

CONMEBOL (South America) teams

Palmeiras, Fluminense, Flamengo, River Plate, and others based on Copa Libertadores winners and ranking (Wikipedia).

Other confederations

AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, and OFC teams are determined by their respective champions and ranking slots. Notably, LAFC replaced Club León after León’s disqualification due to multi-ownership rules (The Independent).

The catch

The two-club rule not only excluded big names—it also blocked Napoli and RB Leipzig, allowing Benfica and Salzburg to qualify. Fans of excluded clubs argue the system prioritizes coefficient math over star quality.

Timeline: Evolution of the FIFA Club World Cup

  • January 2000: First FIFA Club World Cup held in Brazil (8 teams, won by Corinthians).
  • 2013: Tournament adopts current 7-team annual format.
  • 2023: Last annual edition (won by Manchester City) (Wikipedia).
  • March 2023: FIFA announces new 32-team format for 2025 (FIFA official site).
  • 2024: Qualification ongoing; final spots determined by 2024–25 season results.
  • June–July 2025: First expanded 32-team Club World Cup in the USA.

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will have 32 teams (Wikipedia)
  • Host country is the United States
  • Qualification uses confederation champions and ranking (UEFA coefficient 2021–2024)
  • Barcelona, Liverpool, Arsenal did not qualify via UEFA coefficient (World Soccer Talk)

What’s unclear

  • Whether a Club World Cup will be held in 2026 (likely not; next planned for 2029)
  • If the tournament will eventually expand to 48 teams
  • Status of the host nation slot (which US team will take it) – Inter Miami qualified, but the exact mechanism remains unclear (The Independent)

Voices on the tournament

“The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of club football, bringing together the best teams from around the world.”

Gianni Infantino, FIFA President

“Liverpool was excluded as the 8th-ranked UEFA team due to Manchester City and Chelsea’s prior Champions League wins.”

The Independent

For European giants left out, the lesson is harsh: domestic silverware doesn’t guarantee a global stage. The coefficient system, designed to reward consistency over four years, penalizes clubs that stumble in continental competitions. For Barcelona, Liverpool, and Arsenal, the path to the 2029 edition may depend on rule changes that FIFA is already considering. For fans of PSG and Atlético Madrid, the 2025 tournament is a chance to prove their ranking was earned, not gifted. The new format raises the stakes: either compete at the highest level every season, or watch from the sidelines.

For a complete breakdown of which clubs made the cut, see the full list of qualified teams for the 2025 tournament.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the history of the FIFA Club World Cup?

The tournament began in 2000 as an 8-team event, then shifted to a 7-team annual format in 2013. The 2025 edition is the first expanded 32-team version.

Why is the Club World Cup expanding to 32 teams?

To increase global participation and revenue. FIFA President Infantino announced the change in March 2023.

When and where will the 2025 Club World Cup final take place?

The final is scheduled for July 2025 at a yet-to-be-announced venue in the United States.

How can I watch the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?

Broadcast rights are expected to be sold globally; FIFA will announce broadcasters closer to the tournament.

What happens to the trophy for the old Club World Cup?

The old trophy is replaced by a new one for the expanded format. The original trophy likely stays with FIFA.

Will there be a Club World Cup for women?

FIFA has discussed a women’s version, but no concrete plans have been announced.

How many times has Barcelona won the Club World Cup?

Barcelona has won the Club World Cup three times: 2009, 2011, and 2015.

What is the two-club rule and how did it affect Liverpool?

FIFA limits each national association to a maximum of two clubs per tournament. Because Manchester City and Chelsea both qualified as Champions League winners, Liverpool could not take a third English spot despite ranking 8th in the UEFA coefficient.

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