FIFA is set to revamp the Club World Cup in 2025, proposing substantial changes to the premier club championship after the 2023 edition in Saudi Arabia. The current structure, which pits continental champions against each other annually, has faced challenges in gaining widespread support, primarily due to the dominance of Champions League winners.
In the upcoming 2025 edition, the Club World Cup aims to expand its scope, increasing the number of participating teams from seven to 32. The event will occur every four years, with the United States hosting the first revamped edition. However, only two clubs per country will be allowed entry, with priority given to Champions League winners over a four-year period.
Currently, the Club World Cup semifinals feature Manchester City against Urawa Red Diamonds and Fluminense against Al Ahly. Notably, teams like Manchester United and Liverpool, absent from the Champions League knockout stages, are considered unlikely candidates.
The top two slots for England are occupied by Chelsea and Manchester City, reflecting their 2021 Champions League victories and sustained success in European competitions. The qualifying criteria prioritize Champions League winners, with adjustments in FIFA calculations if a country produces more than two continental champions during the qualifying round.
Arsenal stands to qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup if they secure a Champions League victory this year. FIFA’s presentation of qualification requirements in Jeddah outlined the entry of Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester City, thanks to their 2022 Champions League wins. Nine additional teams were selected based on Champions League results since 2020, resulting in twelve European teams in contention. Confirmed entries include Benfica, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, and Porto.
The ongoing Champions League offers remaining teams the opportunity to secure spots in the 2025 Club World Cup. Teams such as Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, Barcelona, Juventus, Napoli, Red Bull Salzburg, Lazio, Arsenal, Copenhagen, Real Sociedad, and PSV are vying for qualification.
