FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Chel ea In, Liverpool and Barcelona Out

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup expands to 32 teams, and a new qualification system explains why Chelsea is in while Liverpool and Barcelona are out. Here’s how the rules affect your favorite club.

Teams in 2025 tournament: 32 ·
Host country: United States ·
First expanded edition: 2025 ·
Confederations represented: 6 ·
UEFA slots: 12 ·
Defending champion (2023): Manchester City

The new qualification system creates a clear pattern: clubs that won continental titles between 2021 and 2024 are almost guaranteed a seat, while those relying on reputation alone are left out.

Why is Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup?

• Chelsea qualified by winning the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)).
• UEFA’s allocation includes winners from the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Champions League editions.
• Chelsea’s 2021 UCL win places them among the four direct UEFA champion slots.

Which Champions League victory secured Chelsea’s spot?

The 2020–21 UEFA Champions League triumph – a 1‑0 win over Manchester City in Porto – gave Chelsea the automatic entry. Since UEFA’s qualification window covers 2021‑2024, that exact title falls inside the period.

What is the qualification period for UEFA clubs?

FIFA’s access principles cover competitions completed between 2021 and 2024 (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)). The four most recent Champions League winners take four of the 12 UEFA slots. The remaining eight go to clubs with the highest UEFA coefficient ranking that haven’t already qualified.

The implication: timing of a single title can lock in a spot even if the club’s recent overall performance has faded.

Why is Liverpool not in the Club World Cup?

• Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019, outside the 2021–2024 period.
• Liverpool’s UEFA coefficient ranking is not high enough to secure one of the eight ranking‑based spots (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)).

Did Liverpool win the Champions League in the qualification window?

No. Liverpool’s most recent Champions League title came in 2019, beating Tottenham 2‑0 in Madrid. That predates the 2021–2024 window by two years.

Could Liverpool still qualify through the club ranking path?

Technically, the eight ranking‑based slots are filled by clubs with the highest coefficient points that are not already qualified. As of the 2024‑25 season, Liverpool’s coefficient places them outside the top eight non‑qualified clubs.

What this means: even a club with a prestigious European history can miss out if its peak performance falls just outside the qualification window.

How do you qualify for the Club World Cup?

• Qualification is primarily through winning the top continental club competition within a set period.
• For UEFA, the four most recent UCL winners (2021–2024) automatically qualify.
• The remaining eight UEFA slots go to the highest‑ranked clubs in the UEFA coefficient list that are not already qualified (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)).
• Other confederations (CONMEBOL, CAF, AFC, CONCACAF, OFC) have similar pathways based on their continental championships.

What are the confederation slot allocations?

The table below breaks down how each confederation’s slots are filled based on the official access list.

The pattern: the more continental titles a confederation awards, the more ranking slots open up. UEFA and CONMEBOL get ranking slots because their club seasons have enough history to produce reliable coefficient lists.

How does the UEFA club ranking work?

FIFA uses a points system that credits wins (3 points), draws (1 point), and progression through tournament stages (3 points per stage). An alternate formula from FIFA also assigns bonus points for reaching specific rounds. The total over the 2021‑2024 period determines the ranking order.

Why is Barcelona not in the FIFA Club World Cup?

• Barcelona has not won the UEFA Champions League since 2015, well outside the 2021–2024 window.
• Barcelona’s recent UEFA coefficient ranking is not high enough to earn one of the eight ranking‑based slots (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)).

Did Barcelona win the Champions League during the qualification period?

No. Barcelona’s last UCL triumph was 2014‑15 (beating Juventus 3‑1). Since then, they have been eliminated in the quarter‑finals or earlier every season, failing to add a title inside the window.

Is Barcelona’s coefficient ranking sufficient?

Barcelona’s coefficient dropped significantly after early round exits in 2021‑22 (group stage) and 2022‑23 (group stage). As of 2024‑25, their standing places them outside the top eight non‑qualified UEFA clubs.

The pattern: a club cannot rely on historical reputation; sustained success in the 2021‑2024 window is now the only currency.

What happens if Crystal Palace wins the Conference League?

• The UEFA Europa Conference League winner does not automatically qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.
• Only winners of the UEFA Champions League (2021–2024) receive direct slots.
• Crystal Palace could still qualify only if their UEFA coefficient ranking is among the top eight non‑qualified clubs (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)).
• Palace’s current coefficient ranking makes that path unlikely.

Does the Conference League winner get a direct Club World Cup slot?

No. FIFA’s qualification criteria list only the UEFA Champions League as the competition that awards automatic entry. The Europa League and Conference League winners gain no direct ticket.

Could Crystal Palace qualify through the coefficient ranking?

In theory, yes. If Palace wins the Conference League but hasn’t already secured a ranking slot, they would need to be among the top eight UEFA club coefficient points holders. However, Palace’s recent European history is limited – they have never qualified for European competition before – so their coefficient is effectively zero.

The catch: even a Conference League title provides no direct path; the ranking route is the only chance, and it requires a historically high coefficient.

Comparison: Old vs. New Club World Cup Format

The jump from 7 to 32 teams fundamentally changes the tournament’s character. Here’s how the two versions stack up.

Tournament Specifications (2025 Edition)

Six details define the structure of the expanded competition.

Steps to Qualify for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

1. Win your confederation’s top club competition during the 2021‑2024 period. Each champion gets an automatic slot.
2. Check the remaining ranking slots in UEFA and CONMEBOL. Clubs accumulate coefficient points through wins, draws, and progression in continental tournaments.
3. Count your coefficient points using FIFA’s formula: 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, plus bonus points for reaching group stage, round of 16, etc.
4. If your club is a multiple champion, it can open additional ranking spots for other clubs from the same association.
5. Respect the two‑club‑per‑association cap – only two teams from the same country can qualify, unless more than two won the continental title.

Timeline: Key Dates for the 2025 Club World Cup

• 2019 – FIFA announces expansion of Club World Cup to 32 teams.
• 14 March 2023 – FIFA Council approves access list.
• 2023 – FIFA confirms 2025 as first expanded edition; United States named host.
• 2021–2024 – UEFA Champions League winners earn direct qualification.
• Late 2024 – Group stage draw for 2025 tournament.
• 14 June – 13 July 2025 – Tournament takes place across multiple US venues.

What’s Confirmed and What’s Still Unclear

What the Experts Say

“The new FIFA Club World Cup will provide a true world championship for clubs, bringing together the best teams from every continent.”

– Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, in official FIFA communications

“FIFA’s qualification criteria ensure that the most successful clubs of the recent four‑year cycle earn their place on merit, while maintaining a cap to prevent any one country from dominating the field.”

– FIFA official communication, explaining the access list

For European elites like Liverpool and Barcelona, the new system means relying on consistent Champions League success, not just past glories. The path to the 2025 Club World Cup is set: win recent continental titles or climb the coefficient rankings. For Chelsea, the 2021 trophy was perfectly timed. For everyone else, the next four‑year window starts now – and the pressure to perform in Europe has never been higher.

For fans wondering about the absent giants, the article on why Liverpool and Barcelona are out offers a comprehensive explanation of the qualification criteria.

Frequently asked questions