FIFA Confirms Details of 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Tournament to take place in the USA between June 15th and July 13th of 2025.

ZURICH, SUI–FIFA have confirmed several key details about the upcoming Club World Cup in 2025 to be played in the United States during their Council in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Among them is the confirmation of the club ranking methodology to five of the six confederations apart from UEFA:

• 3 points for a win
• 1 point for a draw
• 3 points for progress to each stage of the competition

As for as UEFA goes, given that three full seasons and a full group stage of the fourth season of the UEFA Champions League have already been completed, and since UEFA has an existing club coefficient system, the current pre-existing methodology principles for the purpose of calculating the UEFA club coefficient in relation to matches in the UEFA Champions League only will be exceptionally applied to determine the ranking of European clubs for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.

The approved methodology for the ranking of European teams is therefore as follows:

• 2 points for a win
• 1 point for a draw
• 4 points for qualification for the group stage
• 5 points for qualification for the round of 16
• 1 point for progress to each stage of the competition thereafter

Based on the above criteria, the following clubs are already set to take part in 2025:

AFRICA – 4 teams

Via champions pathway (CAF Champions League) – 3 teams

1. 2020/21 and 2022-23: Al Ahly SC (EGY)
2. 2021/22: Wydad AC (MAR)
3. 2023/24: TBC

Via ranking pathway – 1 team

1. TBC

ASIA – 4 teams

Via champions pathway (AFC Champions League) – 3 teams

1. 2021: Al Hilal SFC (KSA)
2. 2022: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
3. 2023/24: TBC

Via ranking pathway – 1 team

1. TBC

EUROPE – 12 teams

Via champions pathway (UEFA Champions League) – 4 teams

1. 2020/21: Chelsea FC (ENG)
2. 2021/22: Real Madrid CF (ESP)
3. 2022/23: Manchester City FC (ENG)
4. 2023/24: TBC

Via ranking pathway – 8 teams

1. FC Bayern München (GER)
2. Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
3. FC Internazionale (ITA)
4. FC Porto (POR)
5. SL Benfica (POR)

10. TBC

11. TBC

12. TBC

NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA, CARIBBEAN – 4 teams

Via champions pathway (Concacaf Champions Cup)

1. 2021: CF Monterrey (MEX)
2. 2022: Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
3. 2023: Club León (MEX)
4. 2024: TBC

OCEANIA – 1 team

Via ranking pathway

1. Auckland City FC (NZL)

While the 2024 edition of the OFC Champions League remains to be played, of the teams that may potentially participate, there is no mathematical possibility for any to overtake Auckland City FC based on the points gained by that team over the qualification period to date.

SOUTH AMERICA – 6 teams

Via champions pathway (CONMEBOL Libertadores) – 4 teams

1. 2021: SE Palmeiras (BRA)
2. 2022: CR Flamengo (BRA)
3. 2023: Fluminense FC (BRA)
4. 2024: TBC

Via ranking pathway – 2 teams

1. TBC
2. TBC

The final slot is allocated to a club from the host country, with further details being provided in due course.

It is expected that the winner of MLS Cup in 2024 will receive the host allocation slot give the previous history of the Club World Cup. However, the past three MLS Cup champions–New York City FC, Los Angeles FC, and Columbus Crew–could also be part of the equation in due course.

Seattle Sounders FC sealed their place in the 2025 competition by winning the 2022 Concacaf Champions League (now Concacaf Cup). Club World Cup perennials, Auckland City of New Zealand, have already claimed the spot for Oceania.

Thirty-two teams will take part in the Club World Cup from June 15th to July 13th and the format will follow that of the previous Men’s and Women’s World Cups with the top two from each group advancing to the Round of 16.

“Clubs play a fundamental role in world football, and the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be a major milestone in providing clubs from all confederations with a fitting stage on which to shine at the highest level of the game,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the press release.

“This will be an open competition based on sporting merit that will play a key role as part of our efforts to make football truly global.”

Also in the release was the announcement that the FIFA Intercontinental Cup will be competed annually from December 2024. The winner of the UEFA Champions League will automatically get a place in the Final at a neutral venue and will face the winner of the playoff between the other confederations.

The AFC and CAF Champions League winners will alternate between who faces the OFC Champions League winner in the opening round of Stage A as well as who would host the Stage A final.

Stage B will be between the winner of the Concacaf Champions Cup and the winner of the Copa Libertadores at the home of one of the winners determined by draw for the first edition and alternate each year after that.

The winners of the two stages will compete at the same neutral venue to determine who would advance to the Final against the Champions League winner.

For the inaugural edition of the competition in 2024, the following dates were confirmed:

• The first stages will be scheduled by FIFA in consultation with the clubs and the confederations
• The play-off will take place on 14 December 2024 in a neutral location
• The final will take place on 18 December 2024 in the same neutral location