In June 2025, an exciting event is set to unfold in the United States—the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, where international clubs will compete for the coveted title. Manchester City will return to defend their championship title, following their 2023 triumph. This tournament, featuring 32 teams, is overflowing with anticipation as clubs from every continent prepare for fierce competition.
A key query arises: how do clubs qualify for this distinguished tournament? The answer lies in FIFA’s established framework designed to assemble the world’s elite clubs from six confederations: Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North America (Concacaf), South America (CONMEBOL), Oceania (OFC), and Europe (UEFA). Qualification opportunities exist through two main paths: winning a continental championship in the preceding four seasons or securing a place via FIFA’s ranking system.
### Qualification Through Continental Titles
Each confederation has been allocated a specific number of slots in the tournament. UEFA holds the lion’s share with 12 slots, whereas CONMEBOL is granted six. AFC, CAF, and Concacaf each possess four slots, while one slot has been earmarked for Oceania alongside the host nation, the United States. Clubs such as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Chelsea have confirmed their participation due to their respective UEFA Champions League victories in recent years.
This qualification route extends to several prestigious tournaments, including the AFC Champions League, CAF Champions League, Concacaf Champions Cup, and South America’s CONMEBOL Libertadores. Teams like Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan, Al Ahly from Egypt, and Brazil’s Flamengo have earned their spots by achieving remarkable success in these competitions.
However, several well-known clubs including Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid had to secure their openings through the UEFA ranking pathway, which requires exceptional performance over the previous competitions.
### Qualification via Ranking System
After automatic qualifications for Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, there were nine available European slots based on ranking. FIFA allocates ranking points beginning from the group stage of each confederation’s premier club competitions, assigning points for wins, draws, and progression through various competition stages. For European teams, the ranking system is slightly modified; they receive two points for a win, one point for a draw, and additional points for achieving certain milestones in the tournament.
Notably, within the ranking system, FIFA imposes a limit whereby only two teams from the same nation can participate unless they qualify through a continental title. This stipulation explains why prominent teams like Liverpool and Barcelona will not feature in 2025 despite their impressive ranks, as they failed to clinch a continental title in the requisite timeframe.
On the other hand, Brazil will enjoy a substantial presence with four representatives after their stunning performances in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. Confederations like CAF, AFC, and Concacaf only enable team qualification through ranking points if one of their clubs has been successful in their premier club competition multiple times over the past four years.
### The Messi Factor
An intriguing element of the tournament is the potential participation of Lionel Messi, the legendary football star. Typically, the FIFA Club World Cup includes at least one team that reaches the tournament without qualifying through sporting merit, and this year, Inter Miami has received a special invitation to join the competition. Although they didn’t secure the MLS championship, their Supporters’ Shield victory solidified their inclusion.
Lionel Messi, for possibly one of the last times in his storied career, could take to the pitch and lead Inter Miami against the globe’s elite clubs, injecting excitement into the tournament set to kick off at Hard Rock Stadium. Fans worldwide will certainly be eager to see how this plays out, as the anticipation builds around June 2025.
### Teams Qualified Through Continental Cups
Various clubs have secured their places through continental glory. These include:
– Al Ahly (Egypt) – CAF Champions League titles: 2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24
– Chelsea (England) – UEFA Champions League: 2020/21
– Real Madrid (Spain) – UEFA Champions League titles: 2021/22, 2023/24
– Flamengo (Brazil) – CONMEBOL Libertadores: 2022
### Additional Qualification Through Rankings
Moreover, several teams qualified through the UEFA ranking pathway. Among these are:
– Bayern Munich (Germany)
– Paris Saint-Germain (France)
– Inter Milan (Italy)
Other clubs like Auckland City (New Zealand) from the OFC ranking pathway and River Plate (Argentina) from the CONMEBOL rankings also made the cut. Overall, with a thrilling lineup anticipated, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises an exhilarating showcase of top-tier football talent on international stages.
