Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis threatened to launch an appeal to FIFA in an attempt to block Juventus from competing in the inaugural edition of the new Club World Cup in 2025, but the Partenopei are still able to qualify on their own merit depending on results in this year’s Champions League.
Two Italian teams are able to compete in the 2025 edition of the Club World Cup. Inter have already booked their place thanks to their strong form in Europe over the last two campaigns, and now only one slot remains. Juventus, Napoli and Lazio are the only other Italian sides who could make the cut.
Club World Cup qualification for European sides is decided upon by UEFA’s club coefficient ranking.
Juventus currently have 47 points in that system, although that tally will not increase due to the club’s absence from this year’s Champions League.
Napoli are second of the remaining Italian teams with 42 points. Lazio trail slightly further behind with 35.
Napoli and Lazio are still able to increase their points tally, given that they are still in the 2023-24 Champions League pot.
Each victory in the Champions League is worth another two points in the coefficient ranking, a draw is worth one, and qualification to the next round adds one more point.
What Lazio need to qualify for the Club World Cup
As outlined by TMW, Lazio would likely require a run to the Champions League final in order to qualify for the Club World Cup.
What Napoli need to qualify for the Club World Cup
It is a lesser, although still not an insignificant task for Napoli. Reaching the semi-final would effectively guarantee a slot at the Club World Cup, although the Partenopei could do it by the end of the quarters, should they qualify.
Napoli will first need to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Barcelona. If they win in Catalonia next week, three more points will be added to their tally, two for the victory and one for qualifying for the next round, bringing their total up to 45 points.
Napoli would then require a further two points in the quarter-finals, i.e. either another victory, or two draws, to draw level on points with Juventus (47) in the UEFA ranking.
If Napoli beat Barcelona next week, a win and a draw in the quarter-finals would secure Napoli’s position as the second strongest Italian side by UEFA’s ranking.
If Napoli draw with Barcelona, but still qualify, they will require two wins in the quarters, or qualification to the semi-finals.
If Napoli fail to get past Barcelona, they will not qualify for the Club World Cup. At that stage, a legal battle is De Laurentiis’ only hope.