How Teams Qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
The first-ever 32-team FIFA Club World Cup kicks off this weekend in the United States, with top clubs from every continent competing for global supremacy.
The qualification process for the newly expanded tournament involved two main routes: continental championships and club performance rankings over the past four years.
🌍 Continental Representation:
- Europe (UEFA) – 12 teams
- South America (CONMEBOL) – 6 teams
- Asia (AFC) – 4 teams
- Africa (CAF) – 4 teams
- North & Central America + Caribbean (CONCACAF) – 4 teams
- Oceania (OFC) – 1 team
- Host nation (USA) – 1 team
🏆 Qualified as Continental Champions (2021–2024)
These 16 clubs secured their place by winning their respective continental tournaments:
UEFA Champions League
- Chelsea (England, 2021)
- Real Madrid (Spain, 2022, 2024)
- Manchester City (England, 2023)
Copa Libertadores
- Palmeiras (Brazil, 2021)
- Flamengo (Brazil, 2022)
- Fluminense (Brazil, 2023)
- Botafogo (Brazil, 2024)
AFC Champions League
- Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia, 2021)
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan, 2022)
- Al Ain (UAE, 2023 & 2024)
CONCACAF Champions League
- Monterrey (Mexico, 2021)
- Seattle Sounders (USA, 2022)
- Pachuca (Mexico, 2024)
CAF Champions League
- Al Ahly (Egypt, 2021, 2023 & 2024)
- Wydad Casablanca (Morocco, 2022)
OFC Champions League
- Auckland City (New Zealand, 2022, 2023 & 2024)
📈 Qualified via Four-Year Club Rankings
These 14 clubs earned spots based on consistent top-tier performance in continental club competitions from 2021–2024:
Europe:
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Porto (Portugal)
- Atletico Madrid (Spain)
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Juventus (Italy)
- Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
South America:
- River Plate (Argentina)
- Boca Juniors (Argentina)
Asia:
- Ulsan HD (South Korea)
Africa:
- Esperance (Tunisia)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
🏟️ Host Nation Representatives (USA)
Two teams from the host country join the line-up:
- Inter Miami: Qualified as the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners (best regular season team)
- Los Angeles FC (LAFC): Earned a spot after beating Club América 2–1 in a play-in match
LAFC were given a chance due to the disqualification of Mexico’s Club León, whose shared ownership with Pachuca (already qualified) violated FIFA’s club ownership rules.
