FIFA have confirmed Inter are among the clubs qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup, which will be staged in the United States and will be officially named Mundial de Clubes FIFA.
The FIFA Council made ‘key decisions in relation to the first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup’ during a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.
“The Council unanimously confirmed the club ranking methodology to be used as part of the key principles of access, which were approved at the Council’s meeting in March 2023,” FIFA said in a statement.
“In the case of European clubs, given that three full seasons and a full group stage of the fourth season of the UEFA Champions League have already been completed, and since UEFA has an existing club coefficient system, the current pre-existing methodology principles for the purpose of calculating the UEFA club coefficient in relation to matches in the UEFA Champions League only will be exceptionally applied to determine the ranking of European clubs for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.”
Considering the approved principles of access, FIFA officially confirmed which clubs have already qualified for the Club World Cup that will be staged from 15 June to 13 July 2025 in the United States.
AFRICA – 4 teams
Via champions pathway (CAF Champions League) – 3 teams
1. 2020/21 and 2022-23: Al Ahly SC (EGY)
2. 2021/22: Wydad AC (MAR)
3. 2023/24: TBC
Via ranking pathway – 1 team
4. TBC
ASIA – 4 teams
Via champions pathway (AFC Champions League) – 3 teams
1. 2021: Al Hilal SFC (KSA)
2. 2022: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
3. 2023/24: TBC
Via ranking pathway – 1 team
4. TBC
EUROPE – 12 teams
Via Champions Pathway (UEFA Champions League) – 4 teams
1. 2020/21: Chelsea FC (ENG)
2. 2021/22: Real Madrid CF (ESP)
3. 2022/23: Manchester City FC (ENG)
4. 2023/24: TBC
Via ranking pathway – 8 teams
5. FC Bayern München (GER)
6. Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
7. FC Internazionale (ITA)
8. FC Porto (POR)
9. SL Benfica (POR)
10. TBC 11. TBC 12. TBC
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA, CARIBBEAN – 4 teams
Via Champions pathway (Concacaf Champions Cup)
1. 2021: CF Monterrey (MEX)
2. 2022: Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
3. 2023: Club León (MEX)
4. 2024: TBC
OCEANIA – 1 team Via ranking pathway
1. Auckland City FC (NZL)
While the 2024 edition of the OFC Champions League remains to be played, of the teams that may potentially participate, there is no mathematical possibility for any to overtake Auckland City FC based on the points gained by that team over the qualification period to date.
SOUTH AMERICA – 6 teams Via champions pathway (CONMEBOL Libertadores) – 4 teams
1. 2021: SE Palmeiras (BRA)
2. 2022: CR Flamengo (BRA)
3. 2023: Fluminense FC (BRA)
4. 2024: TBC
Via ranking pathway – 2 teams
5. TBC 6. TBC
Competition’s format
FIFA confirmed that the group stage will be composed of eight groups of four teams per group playing in a single-game round-robin format. The top two teams per group will progress to the Round of 16, played in a single-match knock-out game. Contrary to what usually happens in the World Cup, there will be no third-place play-off.
FIFA also confirmed that the FIFA Intercontinental Cup will be staged yearly from December 2024 and will feature ‘all confederation premier club competition champions and concluding with a final at a neutral venue between the UEFA Champions League winners and the winners of an intercontinental play-off between clubs from the other confederations.’