How have teams qualified for the Club World Cup?
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.
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:
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
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.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
27-07-2025
- Daily Tribune
Messi Suspended for Skipping All-Star Game
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has been suspended for one match by Major League Soccer after missing the 2025 MLS All-Star Game without prior league approval. Fellow teammate Jordi Alba received the same penalty. Despite being named to the All-Star roster, neither player participated in Wednesday's event, and both were deemed fit to play. Per MLS rules, unexcused absences from the All-Star Game result in an automatic one-match suspension. As a result, Messi will miss Inter Miami's match against Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati on Saturday. The Argentine icon has been in top form this season with 18 goals, helping drive Inter Miami's playoff push. "Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval is ineligible to compete in their club's next match," MLS said in a statement. MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged the difficult nature of the decision, despite Messi's unparalleled impact on the league. "I know Lionel Messi loves this league, but we have a long-standing policy regarding All-Star participation, and we had to enforce it," Garber said. The ruling sparked backlash from Inter Miami, particularly managing owner Jorge Mas, who called the policy "draconian" and said the suspension penalized fans, sponsors, and partners like Apple TV. He explained that the decision to rest Messi and Alba was made by the club in light of a demanding fixture schedule. 'Both players were extremely upset,' Mas said. 'I expressed our disagreement with the league's decision, but notwithstanding that, the decision is what it is.' All-Star games are a hallmark of American sports culture but remain a controversial concept in soccer. Garber hinted at future revisions to the rule, stating, 'I'm committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve.' While Messi's absence from the pitch will be brief, the episode highlights the growing pains MLS faces as it balances American sports traditions with the realities of global football — and with managing its biggest-ever star.
Gulf Insider
21-07-2025
- Gulf Insider
Al Hilal Withdraws from Saudi Super Cup
Al Hilal Football Club Company has officially decided that the first football team will not participate in the 2025/2026 edition of the Saudi Super decision was conveyed through a formal letter sent to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), in which the club outlined the exceptional circumstances that led to its withdrawal from the club explained that the Saudi Super Cup draw, held on June 19, 2025, came just one day after Al Hilal's opening group-stage match at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States against Real Saudi representative advanced honorably to the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals, the latter held on July that match, the team remained in Orlando for three additional days due to travel constraints—effectively limiting the players' off-season to just 24 days if the club withdrew from the Super Cup, or 21 days if it situation, the club stressed, violates clause (5.6) of the mandatory contract annexes under SAFF's Professionalism and Player Status Regulations, which guarantees players a minimum of 28 days of annual clause is also embedded in all professional contracts signed with Al Hilal's first-team letter also highlighted that these exceptional circumstances resulted in the players' annual leave overlapping with the pre-season periods of other clubs, putting Al Hilal at a competitive club has yet to commence its pre-season preparations—delayed due to the extended season and limited recovery time. Moreover, the domestic competition calendar issued by SAFF on June 1 made no mention of the Super Cup being hosted in Hong location was only announced on June 13, after the team had already departed for the U.S., and before any Club World Cup matches had been played. At the time, the duration of their international campaign remained Hilal emphasized its pride in the Super Cup, a tournament it has won on multiple the club noted that a physical and muscular assessment of several players showed signs of extreme fatigue after a year-long campaign, compounded by national team duty and participation in the Club World decision not to participate, it said, serves both the club's long-term interests and those of the Saudi national team, which is set to begin a crucial training camp in October ahead of World Cup qualification playoffs—featuring many Al Hilal club called on SAFF to explore alternative solutions that would allow the tournament to proceed as planned in Hong Kong without its participation, and ensure the event achieves its intended marketing and promotional Hilal stressed that its decision stems from a need to preserve player health following an intensive season representing the Kingdom on the global confirmed receipt of Al Hilal's decision and stated that it will initiate the necessary procedures under the relevant federation added that the matter will be reviewed by the competent committees in accordance with the organizational rules of the Saudi Super said that the federation is now considering inviting Al Ahli to replace Al Hilal, pending confirmation of the club's readiness. A final decision is expected also dismissed the idea of granting Al Qadsiah automatic passage to the final, citing Article 8 of the Super Cup regulations, which treats post-draw withdrawals as violations. Such cases are referred to the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, with fines of up to SR500,000 and compensation for damages potentially imposed. Also read: Authorities Shut Down Two Warehouses for Repackaging Expired Children's Food
Daily Tribune
11-07-2025
- Daily Tribune
Messi brace buoys Miami in 2-1 MLS victory over New England
TDT | Foxborough Lionel Messi scored twice in the first half of Inter Miami's 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Wednesday, continuing a run of form unprecedented in Major League Soccer. The 38-year-old Argentine star has scored two goals in each of his last four MLS games to become the first MLS player to score multiple goals in four straight games. He launched the streak in late May with two goals in a 4-2 win over Montreal, followed by two in a 5-1 victory over Columbus. Miami then paused their MLS campaign to compete in the Club World Cup -- where Messi scored one goal in four matches and Miami were eliminated in the round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain. Javier Mascherano's team returned to MLS action on Saturday with a 4-1 victory at Montreal -- also fueled by a brace from eighttime Ballon d'Or winner Messi. In all Messi has 14 goals in 15 MLS games, putting him two behind leading scorer Sam Surridge, who has appeared in six more games for Nashville than Messi has played this season.
