The first edition of this renewed Club World Cup with 32 teams it will be played next year, between June and July 2025, in the USAand from the real-time classification ranking that was disseminated by the FIFAlittle by little the places are filling up for an event that promises to be historic and spectacular.
This event of global relevance will bring together the best clubs from each of the six international confederations: AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA. The tournament will distribute 2.5 billion dollars and each club that participates will receive no less than 40 million US dollars, hence the importance of securing a place.
The results of the different competitions (including the Libertadores Cup and the Champions League) allow us to discover which teams have already secured their presence, including several heavyweights on the football planet such as Manchester City y Real Madrid. This Wednesday, the closing of the quarterfinals of the Champions League delivered a new qualifier. Unexpected, it’s true.
Because the elimination of England’s Arsenal against Germany’s Bayern Munich left those led by Mikel Arteta with no chance of qualifying. Instead, the one who secured a ticket was the Red Bull Salzburgofrom Germany, and who has the Argentine Nicolas Capaldo in their ranks.
What do you need Boca y River to qualify for the Club World Cup?
In total, there will be six representatives of South America in the 2025 Club World Cup, the four champions of the Copa Libertadores between 2021 and 2024, and two more who will access through a ranking based on their last four participations in that competition.
The FIFA published on its official website a table that is updated minute by minute with the points of each of the clubs and their chances of obtaining a place in the 2025 Club World Cup. It is free to access for everyone, and accessed through this link.
Palmeiras, Flamengo y Fluminense They have already confirmed their place in the Club World Cup thanks to having won the last three Libertadores, and to know the fourth we will have to wait until November 30 when the final of this edition is played. Therefore, in the meantime, the focus is on the ranking that defines the other two, with the exception that he will not be able to be Brazilian because he has already filled his quota with the three champions.
Despite Boca This year’s Libertadores does not play and does not add units, it continues to maintain a privileged position in the list that brings together the Conmebol teams, but it cannot be trusted. RiverOn the other hand, if the dispute is, it is already virtually classified because thanks to its good start it has already passed to those in blue and gold, so now two teams should pass it, something that seems very difficult.
Palmeiras, one of the first to secure their ticket for the 2025 World Cup. Photo: EFE/ Ricardo Moraes.In the 2024 Copa Libertadores, the teams that score points and can take their place from Xeneize are: National of Uruguay, Barcelona of Guayaquil, Valley Independent y Cerro Porteño. Their future in the tournament will be key, where they will receive units for games won and phases passed. The accounts may be left aside depending on who lifts the trophy.
If the champion is River, Boca will have a better chance of qualifying since two other teams in the table should pass. The same would happen if the champion is Palmeiras, Flamengo or Fluminense, which would allow one more place in said ranking. Olympics of Paraguaywhich does not play the Libertadores either, is located behind the club chaired by Juan Román Riquelme, and would benefit from these alternatives.
Boca could not celebrate at the Maracaná but their great Libertadores 2023 can put them in the World Cup. Photo: REUTERS / Ricardo Moraes.On the other hand, if the champion is Students, Workshops, Rosario Central or San Lorenzothere will be only one Argentine who qualifies through the ranking (the limit is two representatives per country, unless they have been champions), a situation that would automatically leave Xeneize out.
Club World Cup 2025: who plays it
A total of 32 teams will compete in the tournament, with places distributed as follows among the six international soccer confederations and one for the host country, the United States, whose name has not yet been announced.
- Africa – 4 CAF teams. Three via the champions (CAF Champions League) and one via the ranking.
- Asia – 4 AFC teams. Three via the champions route (AFC Champions League) and one via the qualification route.
- Europe – 12 UEFA teams. Four via the champions (UEFA Champions League) and eight via the ranking.
- North America, Central America and the Caribbean – 4 Concacaf teams. All through the champions route (Concacaf Champions Cup).
- Oceania – 1 OFC team. By classification.
- South America – 6 CONMEBOL teams. Four via the champions (CONMEBOL Libertadores) and two via the ranking.
- Host country – 1 team.
Club World Cup 2025: Atleti del Cholo will be in the US
As said, UEFA will have 12 teams in the Club World Cup, and there were already ten confirmed: the remaining two will be for the 2023/2024 Champions League champion and the one that finishes with the highest ranking. This last ticket was left in the hands of Atlético de Madridwhich finished above Barcelona in that race and confirmed its presence in the US.
In the event that the champion is one of the teams already classified, the remaining place will be in the hands of the one with the best ranking, although it could not be for clubs from countries that have more than one representative. For this reason, Barcelona already knows that it will watch the tournament on TV and the one that benefited was Salzburg.
Pep Guardiola and his City will be in the Club World Cup. Photo: Paul ELLIS / AFP.Club World Cup 2025: which teams have already qualified
Of the 32 places available for the FIFA Club World Cup to be held next year in the United States, 22 have already been filled.
- Al Ahly (Egypt) – CAF Champions League champions in 2020/21 and 2022/23
- Wydad (Morocco) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League Champion
- Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – 2021 AFC Champions League Champion
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) – 2022 AFC Champions League Champion
- Chelsea (England) – UEFA Champions League Champion 2020/21
- Real Madrid (Spain) – UEFA Champions League Champion 2021/22
- Manchester City (England) – UEFA Champions League Champion 2022/23
- Bayern Munich (Alemania) – UEFA ranking
- Paris Saint-Germain (Francia) – Ranking UEFA
- Inter Milan (Italia) – Ranking UEFAPorto (Portugal) – Ranking UEFA
- Benfica (Portugal) – Ranking UEFA
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – UEFA Ranking
- Juventus (Italia) – Ranking UEFA
- Atlético de Madrid (España) – UEFA Ranking
- RB Salzburg (Germany) – UEFA Ranking
- Monterrey (Mexico) – Concacaf Champions Cup 2021
- Seattle Sounders (United States) – Concacaf Champions Cup 2022
- Club Leon (Mexico) – Concacaf Champions Cup 2023
- Auckland City (Nueva Zelanda) – Ranking OFC
- Palmeiras (Brazil) – Conmebol Libertadores Championship 2021
- Flamengo (Brazil) – Conmebol Libertadores Champion 2022
- Fluminense (Brazil) – Conmebol Libertadores Champion 2023
Club World Cup 2025: format and dates
The first edition of the competition will be held from June 15 to July 13, 2025, the date set for the grand final. This agenda was set with the objective of adapting to the international calendar and leaving enough time between the close of the competition and the beginning of the season of many of the world’s national leagues, as well as guaranteeing a minimum of three days of rest between matches to protect the well-being of players.
FIFA confirmed the format of the competition, which will be similar with an initial phase of eight groups of four teams that will play all against all in a single match, and the first two will access the round of 16, where a direct elimination definition will begin until the final, without a match for third place. Once the 32 teams are known, a draw will be held to determine the placements of each of them.