FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Qualification: How Teams Secured Their Spot

Introduction to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is set to be a historic tournament, expanding from 7 teams to a 32-team format. Hosted in the United States, the revamped tournament will feature top-performing clubs from six continental confederations. But how did each team qualify? Here’s an in-depth look at the qualification criteria and team selection process.

Qualification Criteria for FIFA Club World Cup 2025

FIFA introduced a comprehensive qualification system that spans the years 2021 to 2024. Each continental confederation was allocated a specific number of slots based on competitive balance and historical performance.

Europe (UEFA) – 12 Slots

UEFA clubs can qualify by:

• Winning the UEFA Champions League from 2021–2024 (automatic qualification).
• Top-ranking teams based on a points system, if slots remain unfilled by Champions League winners.

South America (CONMEBOL) – 6 Slots

Qualification via:

• Copa Libertadores winners from 2021–2024 (automatic).
• Additional teams with highest performance across the same period.

N. America, Central America, & Caribbean (Concacaf) – 4 Slots

• Winners of the Concacaf Champions League from 2021 to 2024.

Africa (CAF) – 4 Slots

• CAF Champions League winners from each of the qualification years.

Asia (AFC) – 4 Slots

• AFC Champions League winners from 2021–2024.

Oceania (OFC) – 1 Slot

• Best-performing club in the OFC Champions League across the qualification period.

Host Country (USA) – 1 Slot

• One club from the host nation will qualify, typically selected based on domestic performance.

Did Inter Miami Qualify?

Despite the high-profile presence of Lionel Messi, Inter Miami did not qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The team failed to win the Concacaf Champions League during the eligibility period (2021–2024) and did not accumulate enough performance points to secure a bonus slot.

List of Confirmed Participants (As of 2024)

As the tournament's qualification cutoff approaches, several major clubs have already secured their place:

• Chelsea FC – UEFA Champions League winner 2021
• Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League winner 2022
• Manchester City – UEFA Champions League winner 2023
• Al Hilal – Dominant performer in AFC competitions
• Al Ahly – Multiple-time CAF Champions League winner

Final Thoughts

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be a landmark event bringing global football clubs together in a much larger format. Each qualifying team has either proven their dominance on the continental stage or accumulated enough points through consistent high-level performance. Fans around the world can expect a tournament filled with elite clubs, though some popular teams like Inter Miami will watch from the sidelines.