Several high-profile clubs will be absent from this year’s expanded FIFA Club World Cup set to take place in the United States. Notably, European giants such as Barcelona, Arsenal, and Liverpool will not feature in the tournament.
The competition, which now includes 32 teams, will feature a total of 63 matches. However, a cap of two clubs per national association means only Manchester City and Chelsea will represent England.
The primary qualification method is based on UEFA Champions League success. Chelsea and Manchester City earned their places by winning the competition in 2021 and 2023, respectively. Liverpool and Arsenal missed out, with Liverpool’s 2022 runner-up finish proving insufficient due to the entry of City and Chelsea through tournament victories.
Real Madrid, who lifted the Champions League trophy in 2022 and 2024, also secured their spot. The remaining nine European slots were allocated based on UEFA’s club rankings over a four-year performance cycle.
Among the other European qualifiers are Paris Saint-Germain—who claimed this year’s Champions League title—along with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Benfica, and Red Bull Salzburg.
