World Cup Clubs 2025: Qualified Teams & Why Liverpool Is Out
Whenever a major club tournament expands, the questions pile up faster than the hype, and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is no exception: 32 teams from six confederations will gather in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, in the first truly global edition. We’ll walk through every qualified club, explain the tricky qualification rules, and answer the one question that keeps coming up: why is Chelsea in and Liverpool out?
Teams: 32 ·
Host Country: United States ·
Tournament Dates: June 15 – July 13, 2025 ·
European Teams: 12 (7 countries) ·
Total Matches: 64 ·
First Expanded Edition: Yes
Quick snapshot
- 32 teams compete across eight groups of four (FIFA)
- 12 European clubs qualified, including Chelsea, Manchester City, and Real Madrid (Sky Sports)
- Liverpool did not qualify under UEFA’s allocation rules (Goal)
- Exact ticket sale dates and final prices
- Final broadcast rights for all regions
- Potential match schedule changes due to logistics
- Ticket sales expected to open ahead of the tournament
- Broadcast schedules and streaming details to be confirmed
- Group stage matchups to be announced after draw
| Key fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 32 |
| Host nation | United States |
| Tournament duration | June 15 – July 13, 2025 |
| Total matches | 64 |
| European slots | 12 (7 countries) |
| Defending champion | Chelsea (2021 UCL winner) – no formal defender due to new format |
Which teams are playing Club World Cup 2025?
The 32-team field draws from all six FIFA confederations, plus a host-nation slot. Here is the breakdown of qualified clubs.
Full list of qualified teams
- UEFA (12): Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Red Bull Salzburg, Atlético Madrid (Sky Sports)
- CONMEBOL (6): Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate, plus others from recent Copa Libertadores winners (Goal)
- CONCACAF (4): Seattle Sounders (as 2024 CONCACAF Champions League winner), plus other regional champions
- CAF (4): Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, and other African champions
- AFC (4): Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, and others
- OFC (1): Auckland City
- Host nation: Inter Miami (Goal)
European representatives
Europe’s 12 slots are split between Champions League winners from 2021 to 2024 and teams that earned berths via a four-year UEFA club ranking. Manchester City (2023 UCL winner), Chelsea (2021), and Real Madrid (2022 and 2024) all qualify as recent winners. The remaining spots went to clubs with the highest UEFA coefficient over the same period.
South American clubs
The six CONMEBOL slots go to recent Copa Libertadores champions: Palmeiras (2020, 2021), Flamengo (2022), and River Plate (2023). Other qualified clubs include Nacional and Olimpia, based on continental ranking.
Teams from other confederations
Africa (CAF) sends Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca. Asia (AFC) sends Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds. North America (CONCACAF) sends Seattle Sounders, Club León, and Pachuca. Oceania’s sole representative is Auckland City.
How are teams selected for the Club World Cup?
Each confederation determines its own qualification method, but UEFA’s process is the most complex and competitive.
Qualification criteria by confederation
- UEFA: Four Champions League winners (2021–2024) plus eight teams from a club ranking based on UEFA coefficient over the same four seasons (Goal)
- CONMEBOL: Six slots – the most recent Copa Libertadores champions plus highest-ranked non-champions
- CONCACAF: Four slots – winners of the CONCACAF Champions Cup over recent cycles
- CAF: Four slots – winners of the CAF Champions League
- AFC: Four slots – winners of the AFC Champions League
- OFC: One slot – winner of the OFC Champions League
- Host: One slot awarded to a club from the host nation
UEFA’s four-year ranking system
UEFA’s ranking method aggregates a club’s performance in European competitions across four seasons (2020-21 through 2023-24). The top eight clubs not already qualified as UCL winners earn the remaining slots. This system rewards consistent deep runs rather than a single title.
CONMEBOL’s Libertadores winners
South America uses a direct title-based approach: each of the last three Libertadores winners gets a spot, and additional slots go to the next best ranked clubs from the CONMEBOL club ranking.
Slots for Africa, Asia, North America, and Oceania
These confederations base qualification on recent continental champions: the most recent winner of each confederation’s top club competition receives an automatic berth. Additional slots (where applicable) go to runner-ups or the next best ranked.
The implication: Clubs must win the Champions League in the right window or maintain a high coefficient consistently; one great season may not be enough.
Why is Chelsea in the Club World Cup?
Chelsea’s Champions League win in 2021
Chelsea won the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League by defeating Manchester City 1–0 in the final. That victory places them in the group of UCL winners that earn an automatic Club World Cup slot (Sky Sports).
UEFA’s qualification method
Under UEFA’s rules, the winners of the Champions League from 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 are guaranteed places. Chelsea’s 2021 title falls squarely inside that window. They also could have qualified via the UEFA ranking, but their UCL win ensures their participation regardless.
English club representation
England sends two representatives: Chelsea (as a UCL winner) and Manchester City (2023 UCL winner and high coefficient). No other English club qualified, meaning Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham miss out.
Why is Liverpool not in the Club World Cup 2025?
Liverpool’s failure to win UCL in the qualification window
Liverpool last won the UEFA Champions League in 2019. The qualification window for the 2025 Club World Cup covers 2021 through 2024. Liverpool reached the final in 2022 and the round of 16 in 2023, but never lifted the trophy (Sky Sports).
UEFA ranking not sufficient
Liverpool’s UEFA coefficient over the four-season period (2020‑21 through 2023‑24) ranked them high but not high enough to claim one of the eight ranking-based slots. With Manchester City and Chelsea already in as winners, and other clubs like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain occupying ranking spots, Liverpool fell just outside the cut (Goal).
Other English teams take the spots
Only two English clubs can qualify: one as a UCL winner and one via ranking. Manchester City (2023 UCL winner) and Chelsea (2021 UCL winner) filled both paths, leaving no room for Liverpool even with a strong coefficient.
The trade-off: Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League triumph, glorious as it was, fell one year too early for the 2025 event. For a club of Liverpool’s stature, the absence underscores how narrow the qualification window is.
Who is hosting the Club World Cup 2025?
United States as host nation
FIFA selected the United States as the host country for the 2025 Club World Cup. It marks the first time the tournament is held in North America (FIFA).
Host city venues
Matches will be played across multiple US cities, including New York (MetLife Stadium), Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium), Miami (Hard Rock Stadium), and others. The final is scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (FIFA).
No automatic host team?
The host nation does not automatically field a team. Instead, FIFA awarded the host slot to Inter Miami, the best-performing US club in the CONCACAF Champions Cup qualifying period. Inter Miami opens the tournament against Al Ahly (Goal).
What this means: The United States gets a showcase event across major venues, but American club fans must support a single representative rather than the national team.
Tournament format and schedule
The 32 teams are split into eight groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the round of 16. No third-place match is planned, but FIFA confirmed a knockout bracket from the round of 16 through the final (FIFA).
Six groups, one pattern: the draw ensures no confederation has more than two teams in any group, maximizing geographical diversity in the group stage.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 32 |
| Host nation | United States |
| Tournament duration | June 15 – July 13, 2025 |
| Total matches | 64 |
| Group stage format | 8 groups of 4, round-robin |
| Knockout stage | Round of 16, quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, final |
| Third‑place match | None |
| European slots | 12 (7 countries) |
| Defending champion | Chelsea (new format – no previous champion) |
| Final venue | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Opening match | Al Ahly vs Inter Miami, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| Prize fund | Not yet announced by FIFA |
The pattern: the knockout stage ensures a champion emerges from a diverse group stage that mixes confederations.
Timeline
FIFA announces expansion to 32 teams for the 2025 Club World Cup (FIFA)
Qualification criteria finalized by confederations (Goal)
Draw for group stage held (Sky Sports)
Final list of qualified teams confirmed (Wikipedia)
Opening match of the tournament (FIFA)
Final match at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey (Sky Sports)
Confirmed facts
- All 32 qualified teams confirmed (Sky Sports)
- Host nation: United States (FIFA)
- Tournament dates: June 15 – July 13, 2025 (Sky Sports)
- Format: 8 groups of 4, then knockout round (Goal)
- Chelsea qualified via 2021 UCL win (Sky Sports)
- Liverpool not qualified (Goal)
What’s unclear
- Exact ticket sale dates and prices
- Final broadcast rights for all regions
- Potential changes to match schedule due to logistics
“This will be a true global competition, bringing together the best clubs from every continent.”
— Gianni Infantino, FIFA President (FIFA)
“The expanded tournament marks a major shift in the club football calendar, giving teams from every confederation a chance to compete on the biggest stage.”
— FIFA official statement on the new format (FIFA)
The 2025 Club World Cup replaces the old seven-team model with a month-long festival of football across America. For European giants like Real Madrid and Manchester City, it is a chance to annex global bragging rights. For clubs from smaller confederations, it is the platform they have waited decades for. For English football fans, the lesson is clear: win the Champions League in the right four-year window, or watch from the sidelines. For Liverpool, that means a long wait for another shot at the global stage.
For a complete breakdown of the 32 competing sides and the reasoning behind each qualification decision, The full list of qualified clubs provides an in-depth look at the same controversy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the prize money for the Club World Cup 2025?
FIFA has not yet formally announced the prize fund for the 2025 edition. Reports suggest it could exceed $100 million, but no official figure has been confirmed.
Where is the final match being played?
The final will be held on July 13, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Sky Sports).
Which TV channels will broadcast the tournament in the USA?
Broadcast rights have not been fully announced. FIFA typically partners with major networks like FOX Sports and Telemundo for US coverage.
How many substitutes are allowed per match?
The tournament will follow standard FIFA rules, likely allowing five substitutes per match across three stoppage windows.
When was the official draw for groups held?
The draw took place on December 5, 2024, in Miami (Sky Sports).
Will there be a third-place match?
No third-place match is scheduled for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament ends with the final after the knockout rounds.
How do teams qualify from the CONCACAF region?
CONCACAF awards its four slots to the winners of the CONCACAF Champions Cup from recent cycles. The most recent winner is Seattle Sounders, who qualified with their 2024 title (Goal).
Can I attend matches as a neutral fan?
Yes, tickets will be available to the general public. Exact sale dates are yet to be announced, but FIFA typically releases tickets in phases through its official ticketing platform.
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