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Club World Cup

What is club world cup?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Organiser FIFA[1]
Founded 2000[2]
New format teams 32 teams[4]
Format change Replaced by a 32-team edition played every four years[5]

The Club World Cup is a FIFA-organized international men's football competition for club teams, created to determine the world's top club side. It has existed in different formats, including the older annual competition and the newer expanded tournament.

Context

The Club World Cup is a FIFA-organized international men's football competition for club teams, created to determine the world's top club side [1]. It has existed in different formats, including the older annual competition and the newer expanded tournament [3]. The tournament includes clubs from six continental confederations: UEFA, CONMEBOL, AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, and OFC [1]. The old annual seven-team format was replaced by a 32-team edition played every four years [5]. The 2025 edition is described as the first under the new expanded format [5].

Documented claims

  • The Club World Cup is organized by FIFA and includes clubs from six continental confederations. [1]
  • The 2025 edition is the first under the new expanded 32-team format. [5]

Questions and answers

Why are Liverpool not in the Club World Cup?

Liverpool are not in the 2025 Club World Cup because qualification is based on continental competition performance over a four-year cycle, and they did not qualify through that process [4].

Why is Barcelona not in the Club World Cup?

Barcelona are not in the 2025 Club World Cup because they did not meet the qualification criteria based on continental competition performance [4].

Sources

  1. FIFA Club World Cup | Winners, Clubs, & Facts — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. What Is the Club World Cup? Format, Teams, and Why It Matters — sofascore.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. The Club World Cup: What is it and Why is it Important? — jobsinfootball.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. FIFA Club World Cup: Format, draw, teams, schedule .. ... — espn.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. How does the Club World Cup work? — bbc.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Sports