In the event that either Manchester United or Liverpool emerges as the Champions League victor in the upcoming season, they will be deemed ineligible to participate in the restructured Club World Cup scheduled for 2025.
FIFA is set to introduce substantial changes to its premier club competition following the ongoing 2023 edition in Saudi Arabia. The current format, which annually pits continent champions against each other, has faced challenges in gaining widespread appeal due to the consistent dominance of Champions League winners since its inception in 2000. In the semifinals, Manchester City is set to face Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, with the final featuring either Brazil’s Fluminense or Egypt’s Al Ahly.
With the aim of elevating the Club World Cup’s status, FIFA intends to expand the tournament from seven to 32 teams for the 2025 edition in the United States, held every four years. FIFA will allow only two clubs per nation, giving preference to Champions League winners within a four-year period for entry.
As of now, Chelsea and Manchester City hold the two spots for England based on their Champions League triumphs in 2021 and their current European success. However, if a nation produces more than two continental winners within a qualifying period, FIFA may reconsider. Therefore, should Arsenal emerge victorious in this year’s Champions League, they would become eligible for the 2025 Club World Cup.
Teams such as Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Liverpool, or Tottenham are unlikely to participate due to their absence from the current Champions League knockout stages.
In a recent meeting in Jeddah, FIFA outlined the qualification criteria for the 2025 Club World Cup. Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Chelsea have secured spots based on their 2022 Champions League victories. Twelve European teams will participate, with nine others chosen based on Champions League performances since 2020. Confirmed entries include Benfica, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, and Porto.
The remaining teams, including Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, Barcelona, Juventus, Napoli, Red Bull Salzburg, Lazio, Arsenal, Copenhagen, Real Sociedad, and PSV, can secure berths by winning this year’s Champions League.
