Manchester United and Liverpool will not play in the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup competition, as new rules for the expanded tournament were confirmed.
In a statement, the world football governing body, FIFA, said it has finally made changes to the Club World Cup competition, increasing the participants from seven, the winner of each continental competition, and the hosts’ national champion to 32 teams as of 2025.
The tournament will be held every four years, with the first one being scheduled for June 15 to July 13, 2025, in the United States of America. In the new format, the winner of the Continental Champions League from the 2020–21 season to the 2023–24 season will qualify automatically, and there will be a maximum of two teams from one country.
“The two-club country cap is lifted if there are more than two Champions League winners from one country over the four-year qualifying cycle,” FIFA said.
In the continental slots breakdown, Europe will get 12 slots, Africa will get 4 slots, Asia will get 4 slots, South America will get 6 slots, North and Central America and the Caribbean will get 4 slots, and Oceania will get 1 slot. The remaining slot was given to one team via rankings.
England’s two slots will go to Chelsea and Manchester City since they have won a Champions League title in the last three seasons. Arsenal have a fighting chance if they win this year’s Champions League title, which is currently in the round of 16 knockout stage.
Out of the 32 slots, 19 slots have already been taken, and here is a breakdown:
In addition to the two English teams, Europe will be represented by Real Madrid, automatically qualified to win the Champions League title, Bayern Munich, Porto, Benfica, Inter Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain.
In Asia, Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds have qualified as champions, while in South America, Brazilian sides Palmeiras, Flamengo, and Fluminense are also through. Al Ahly and Wydad have similarly qualified from Africa, while Monterrey, the Seattle Sounders, and Club Leon are from North America.
Oceania’s Auckland City have sealed progress, with no other team in position to overtake their point tally.
The tournament will be a classic World Cup format of 32 teams split into eight groups of four. The top two progress to the knockout stage, with the finalists playing a total of seven matches.
Teams will have three rest days between games, and there will be no third-place play-off.
