Club world cup
This weekend marks the start of the new format of the tournament with 32 clubs competing to be the world's best. (AFP)

The Club World Cup is here

With the start of the tournament begins the road to finding out which is the best soccer team in the world.

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From 2025, the renewed FIFA Club World Cup will have a new 32-team format, an unprecedented number of participants, which in turn redefines the qualification criteria for this and the following editions.

This is how one qualifies for the Club World Cup

The 32 places for the tournament in the United States are divided among six confederations: 12 for European clubs (UEFA) and six for South American clubs (Conmebol).

Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF) and North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) each have four places. Oceania (OFC) is entitled to one place and the remaining ticket goes to a club from the host country.

There are two routes to play in the Club World Cup, which will be played every four years from now on: through direct qualification as continental champion or through a performance ranking in international competitions that weighs accumulated points, goals, ranking and other metrics.

The champions

For the case of the 2025 World Cup, automatic tickets were obtained by the champions of the main continental tournaments of each federation since 2021:

-European Champions League: Chelsea (ENG-2021), Real Madrid (ESP-2022 and 2023) and Manchester City (ENG-2024).

-Copa Libertadores de América: Palmeiras (BRA-2021), Flamengo (BRA-2022), Fluminense (BRA-2023) and Botafogo (BRA-2024).

-Asian Champions League: Al Hilal (KSA-2021), Urawa Red Diamonds (JAP-2022) and Al Ain (UAE-2023 and 2024).

-CONCACAF Champions League: Monterrey (MEX-2021), Seattle Sounders (USA-2022), Pachuca (MEX-2024) and Los Angeles FC (USA-after winning a playoff and in place of unseeded Club Leon-MEX, champion in 2023).

-African Champions: Al Alhy (EGY-2021, 2023 and 2024) and Wydad Casablanca (MAR-2022).

-OFC Champions League: Auckland City (NZL-between 2022 and 2024).

Those with outstanding performance:

In the case of UEFA and Conmebol, the remaining slots are allocated by the cumulative performance ranking in that same period. How it is measured:

Each confederation has its own points system, but generally weighting is given to matches won in international tournaments, the stage to which they advance, goals and goal difference, and the best and most recent participation.

Each country may send a maximum of two clubs, unless it has more than one continental champion. The remaining eligible slots are allocated on the basis of performance ranking.


This is how the non-championship clubs of outstanding performance arrived:

-UEFA: Bayern Munich (GER), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Inter Milan (ITA), Porto (POR), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Benfica (POR), Juventus (ITA), Red Bull Salzburg (GER).

-CONMEBOL: River Plate (ARG) and Boca Juniors (ARG).

-AFC: Ulsan Hyundai (KOR).

-CAF: Espérance de Tunis (TUN) and Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA).


In the case of the club participating for the host country, the confederation concerned and FIFA select the participant on the basis of internal criteria, including recent results in international and local competitions.

In this edition, the one chosen by Concacaf was Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, champion of the 2024 MLS Supporter's Shield, which rewards the team with the most consistent season.

2029 is already in the making...

After 2029, the Club World Cup will continue to be held every four years, and that window of time will designate the 32 participants.

PSG, for example, has already qualified for the competition after winning this year's European Champions League.

Al Ahli (KSA), Asian champions in 2025, Pyramids FC (EGY), from Africa, and Cruz Azul (MEX), which won the Concachampions earlier this month, have also secured their place in 2029.

With information from AFP

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