How have teams qualified for the Club World Cup?
Los Angeles FC beat Club America in a one-off game last month to secure the last qualifying spot for the FIFA Club World Cup (Frederic J. BROWN)
The new-look FIFA Club World Cup kicks off in the United States this weekend with 32 teams from around the globe taking part.
With 12 representatives, Europe is sending more teams than any other continent, followed by South America with six.
Advertisement
Asia and Africa both have four competing teams, as does the CONCACAF region of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
In addition, there is one club from Oceania while the line-up is completed by a representative from the host nation.
There are two ways of qualifying for the tournament, which football's world governing body now intends to stage every four years -- either as continental champions or via a club ranking based on performances in continental competitions over a four-year period.
- Continental champions -
The following 16 teams qualified as continental champions over the period from 2021 to 2024:
Advertisement
UEFA Champions League winners: Chelsea (ENG/2021), Real Madrid (ESP/2022 and 2024), Manchester City (ENG/2023)
Copa Libertadores winners: Palmeiras (BRA/2021), Flamengo (BRA/2022), Fluminense (BRA/2023), Botafogo (BRA/2024)
AFC Champions League winners: Al Hilal (KSA/2021), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN/2022), Al Ain (UAE/2023 and 2024)
CONCACAF Champions League winners: Monterrey (MEX/2021), Seattle Sounders (USA/2022), Pachuca (MEX/2024)
CAF Champions League winners: Al Ahly (EGY/2021, 2023 and 2024), Wydad Casablanca (MAR/2022)
OFC Champions League winners: Auckland City (NZL/2022, 2023 and 2024)
- Best four-year rankings -
Advertisement
The following 14 teams qualified via their performances in continental club competitions over the last four years:
Europe: 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 (AUT)
South America: River Plate (ARG), Boca Juniors (ARG)
Asia: Ulsan HD (KOR)
Africa: Esperance (TUN), Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
- Host representatives -
That leaves two berths, both of which have gone to teams who will be playing on home turf.
Perhaps conveniently for FIFA as they look to get eyeballs on their new competition, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami are the designated representatives of the host nation.
Advertisement
That is after they won the Supporters Shield for being the best performing side during the 2024 MLS regular season -- even though LA Galaxy went on to win the MLS Cup to determine the overall champions.
Los Angeles FC claimed the last spot with a 2-1 extra-time victory against Club America of Mexico in a play-in match at the end of last month.
The spot became available following FIFA's decision to ban Mexican club Leon from the tournament.
Leon were barred because the club is owned by Grupo Pachuca, which also controls Liga MX side Pachuca, who are also taking part.
LAFC were given the chance on the basis of finishing as runners-up to Leon in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.
ag/raa/cl/as/jc
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PSG aims for Club World Cup glory after historic Champions League win
Los Angeles FC players celebrate a goal by Igor Jesus during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup play-in soccer match against the Club América, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) FILE - Edinson Cavani of Argentina's Boca Juniors strikes the ball during a Copa Sudamericana Group D soccer match against Bolivia's Nacional Potosi at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File( FILE - Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez shoots to score the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Slovan Bratislava at Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File) FILE - Teammates celebrate with Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10), center, after he scored his side's second goal against Columbus Crew during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) FILE - PSG's Desire Doue scores his side's second goal past Inter Milan's Federico Dimarco, left, during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File) FILE - PSG's Desire Doue scores his side's second goal past Inter Milan's Federico Dimarco, left, during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File) Los Angeles FC players celebrate a goal by Igor Jesus during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup play-in soccer match against the Club América, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) FILE - Edinson Cavani of Argentina's Boca Juniors strikes the ball during a Copa Sudamericana Group D soccer match against Bolivia's Nacional Potosi at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File( FILE - Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez shoots to score the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Slovan Bratislava at Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File) FILE - Teammates celebrate with Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10), center, after he scored his side's second goal against Columbus Crew during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) FILE - PSG's Desire Doue scores his side's second goal past Inter Milan's Federico Dimarco, left, during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File) Just weeks after winning the Champions League for the first time in its history, Paris Saint-Germain's eyes are now fixed on FIFA's shiny new Club World Cup. The newly-crowned European champion can add the world title to a trophy haul that also included a French league and cup double this season. Advertisement 'We want to finish the season in style with the cherry on the cake,' coach Luis Enrique said. PSG had already qualified for the rebooted Club World Cup in the United States, but its Champions League triumph may still have come as a relief to FIFA. That's because, while the winner of the bumper tournament will officially be crowned the best club soccer team in the world, there are some notable absentees from the 32-team roster. Some big names are missing The Club World Cup will be without the champion of the most popular league in the world — the Premier League — given Liverpool's failure to meet the qualifying criteria. Advertisement The same goes for Barcelona and Napoli -- champions of Spain and Italy, respectively. No place either for current Asian champion Al-Ahli from Saudi Arabia or Pyramids — the African champion from Egypt. FIFA likely breathed a sigh of relief then when PSG and Inter Milan advanced to the final of the Champions League, with both teams having already secured their place at the Club World Cup via ranking points for recent runs in Europe's top club competition. Had either of the losing semifinalists — Barcelona or Arsenal — gone on to lift the trophy, then the flagship new tournament would have been without the reigning champion of Europe as well. The qualifying criteria were based on winners of continental trophies in the four years prior to the tournament, but not including the season directly before it. Advertisement That's why Chelsea — Champions League winner in 2021 — has a seat at the table despite finishing fourth in the Premier League last month. Chelsea is arriving at the Club World Cup with a new team, coach and even owners since it won the Champions League four years ago. The club is one of 12 from Europe, including stellar names like Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Inter and Juventus. South American clubs are Europe's top rivals Some of Latin America's biggest teams are in the tournament — including reigning Copa Libertadores champion Botafogo from Brazil. Three other Brazilian teams have qualified: Palmeiras, Flamengo and Fluminense. Advertisement Argentina's famous rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors will also be there — and are expected to be backed by thousands of fans traveling to the U.S. It is the Latin American contingent that likely will likely present the biggest challenge to the European teams. 'Everyone wants to compete — the question is how you prepare to win, to try to win. That's what challenges me,' said Marcelo Gallardo, River Plate head coach. 'I want to win. I don't want to just go and see what happens.' Will it work? FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes the tournament is what the sport has been waiting for — a world championship for club soccer. Advertisement 'For the first time in history, the 32 best clubs in the world will compete in a tournament to determine finally who is the best club in the world,' he said this week. In its previous format, which involved a mini-tournament of just seven teams instead of 32, it never fully captured global interest. Played in the middle of the season for Europe's top leagues, it had the feel of an exhibition, rather than a serious tournament. European teams dominated the modern era, winning all but one of the last 17 editions. The new format will be a much more exacting examination of the eventual winner — not least because there are so many teams from Europe, but also because there has been a marked drive to improve levels in countries like the U.S. and Saudi Arabia following a slew of star signings such as Lionel Messi, who has transformed Inter Miami. However, it remains unclear how much of an appetite there is among fans for another elite tournament in a calendar that is already saturated. Advertisement Details on ticket sales have not been released, but prices have dropped as the tournament has drawn closer and seats for the opening game between Al Ahly and Inter Miami on Saturday were still available this week. Marriott Bonvoy, a U.S. Soccer Federation partner, has been offering free tickets to some of its elite members for some games. It also remains to be seen what the television viewing figures will be, with the tournament broadcast globally on streaming service DAZN, which has also made 24 matches available with English-language commentary to TNT in the U.S. Eye-catching matches Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami, June 14, Miami Advertisement Five years after its MLS debut, Inter Miami — the team owned by David Beckham — will kick off in the first game of the Club World Cup. Its opponent in the opener is Egypt's Al Ahly — the winner of a record 12 African championships. It's likely to be party time at the Hard Rock Stadium, but the chance of Al Ahly spoiling Miami's big day is very real. PSG vs. Atletico Madrid, June 15, Los Angeles It will be an early test for PSG against Atletico. This is the type of match that could grace the later stages of any Champions League campaign between two of Europe's finest. Chelsea vs. LAFC, June 16, Atlanta Advertisement LAFC got in through the back door via a playoff against Club America of Mexico and its reward is an opening game against two-time Champions League winner Chelsea. Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal, June 18, Miami The anticipation around this one would have been so much more intense had Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal not released Neymar in January, but it still has other star signings like striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. Madrid has a new coach in Xabi Alonso, who can get off to a flying start by winning the world title. PSG vs. Botafogo, June 19, Los Angeles Champions League winner against the reigning Copa Libertadores champion. This is the type of match that would have been the final in the tournament's previous guise — the best of Europe vs. the best of Latin America. Advertisement Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors, June 20, Miami Two soccer giants from different continents clash at the Hard Rock Stadium. This is what this tournament is all about. Expect an electric atmosphere with Boca's fans likely to massively outnumber those cheering on German champion Bayern. Inter Milan vs. River Plate, June 25, Seattle Another clash of continental titans. Champions League runner-up Inter takes on Argentine giant River Plate. Juventus vs. Manchester City, June 26, Orlando City may have relinquished its Premier League title and ended the season empty-handed for the first time eight years, but there's still chance for Pep Guardiola to salvage the campaign with the world title. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chelsea to trim sizeable loan group
Chelsea are open to the fact that they need to sell a host of players, especially those that spent last season on loan. The club's policy is not to carry a large group of loanees that are not expected or likely to make it into the first team. Advertisement In their 28-man Club World Cup selection, only one loanee progressed into Enzo Maresca squad from last season, midfielder Andrey Santos. The rest, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Djordje Petrovic, Armando Broja, Joao Felix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu and more - are mostly available for sale. The asking price for Kepa is known to be only £5m as he enters the last year of his contract, while Benfica are being credited with serious interest to re-sign Felix. In Sterling's case, the winger made 12 starts on loan at North London club Arsenal last season while the Blues paid around half of his current £300,000-a-week wages. EFL loanees like Alfie Gilchrist, Alex Matos, Leo Castledine and Zak Sturge are also exploring permanent transfers away from Stamford Bridge. Advertisement Defender Sturge, 20, is in advanced talks about making his loan move at Millwall permanent at the end of the season. Chelsea prefer sales rather than loan moves at this stage but could relax their position later in the transfer window if they struggle to find exits for players. Midfielders Kendry Paez and Mathis Amougou are expected to join Strasbourg on loan while goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe is in talks over a new contract and potentially joining League One club Bolton Wanderers on loan.
CNN
42 minutes ago
- CNN
Thomas Tuchel admits that some can find England star Jude Bellingham ‘a bit repulsive' – including the manager's mother
England soccer star Jude Bellingham has a 'hunger' and 'rage' that can come across as 'a bit repulsive,' manager Thomas Tuchel said in a new interview with British outlet TalkSport. Bellingham, a key player for his national team and Real Madrid, has rarely been afraid to hide his emotions on the pitch. That much was evident in England's 3-1 loss against Senegal on Tuesday as he remonstrated with a fourth official and kicked a cooler box in frustration. But Tuchel, who suffered his first loss as Three Lions boss with the defeat against Senegal, said that the midfielder 'brings an edge which we welcome' – even if some fans see it differently. 'He has the fire and I don't want to dim this down,' Tuchel told the British outlet. 'He should play with this kind of fire. That's his strength. But the fire comes also with some attributes that can intimidate you, maybe even as a teammate. 'You see sometimes the explosion towards referees and the anger in his game. So if he can channel this in the right way and we can help him in this, then for sure he has the something that we need, and he has a certain edge that is hard to find.' Tuchel added: 'I see this with my parents, with my mom, that she sometimes cannot see the nice and well-educated and well-behaved guy that I see. 'If he smiles, he wins everyone. But sometimes you see the rage, you see the hunger and the rage and the fire and it comes out in a way that can be a bit repulsive – for example, for my mother, when she sits in front of the TV. I see that. But in general, we are very happy to have him. He's a special boy.' Still only 21, Bellingham has already made 44 appearances for England, scoring six goals and playing a crucial role in the team's run to the final of last year's European Championships. He won La Liga, Champions League and Spanish Super Cup titles in his first season in Spain with Los Blancos but was more subdued in the last campaign, scoring 14 goals compared to 23 the previous year. Tuchel admitted that he has been undecided about where to play Bellingham in his England team, particularly after seeing his goalscoring form for Real Madrid. 'I see (in him) what I normally see only in strikers,' said Tuchel. 'I think now, at the moment, he's more an eight or 10 than a six or eight. Maybe a 10.' Though only a friendly, England's defeat against Senegal was the team's first ever loss against an African nation. It followed a lackluster 1-0 victory against Andorra on Saturday, but the Three Lions remain top of their World Cup qualifying group with three wins from three.
