Decision Time Looms Over EU's Future: European Parliament Pondering Destiny of European Union
Steppin' up the Game: Gianni Infantino Gearing up for Expanded Club World Cup
It's a thrilling time for FIFA president Gianni Infantino as he's just about a year away from hosting the initial FIFA World Cup with a whopping 48 teams—a dream he's fostered for ages. But, that's not all he's got cooking up his sleeve. He's also preparing to attend the new Club World Cup, another major project launching on June 14 this year.
This competition will gather 32 teams worldwide every four years, replacing the Intercontinental Club Cup, which features six teams annually. Let's dive into how these teams will make their mark on the global stage.
Invitation By Continental Titles or Ranking
Each continent will select winners of the most prestigious continental competitions between 2021 and 2024 to participate, filling up most of the spaces. The remaining slots will be allocated based on the continental ranking over the same period.
For Europe, clubs like Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City have earned automatic qualification by clinching the UEFA Champions League between 2021 and 2024. But, guess what? That's still not enough to secure a spot for their respective countries. Europe will have only eight or nine more spots up for grabs, depending on the number of double winners—like Real Madrid, who've won the UEFA Champions League twice during the cycle.
So, how do the remaining European teams seize their opportunity? UEFA will use its ranking of teams over the 2021-2024 period, considering their performances in European competitions. But, here's the twist: a country can only send two teams to the Club World Cup. Exceptionally, if three or four clubs from the same country win the UEFA Champions League during the period, they'll all qualify.
Striking Out on Other Continents
Aside from Europe, it's anyone's game. South America is no exception with surprises forthcoming. The Brazilians of Botafogo, who finished 22nd in the continental ranking over the 2021-2024 period, made the cut as winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores. But, Brazilians from Atlético Mineiro (3rd) or those from Athletico Paranaense (7th) will have to step up their performance during the 2025-2028 cycle to taste this new competition.
The Uninvited European Giants
Curious why powerhouses like Liverpool, FC Barcelona, and AC Milan won't be participating in the 2025 tournament? It all boils down to UEFA's limited slots and its preference for clubs that have recently won the Champions League or demonstrated high performance within the UEFA system. For instance, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City secured automatic qualification by capturing the Champions League, leaving little room for other notable teams.
The selection process for the Club World Cup draws heavily on recent continental success and consistent high performance within UEFA competitions. This neatly explains why some traditional powerhouses like Liverpool, Barcelona, and AC Milan have been left out, while European teams like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and others have secured their spots either through Champions League victories or superior UEFA rankings.
Sources:
- [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Club_World_Cup#New_format
- [2] https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0218/1173154-uefa-coefficients-and-the-fifa-club-world-cup/
- [3] https://www.fifa.com/club-world-cup/news/the-full-club-world-cup-group-stage-drawover-2021/5081657
- [4] https://www.fifa.com/global/news/the-new-fifa-club-world-cup-draw-ever-more-globally-representative
- [5] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/01/01/champions-league-winners-play-core-fifa-club-world-cup-kicksoff/
Enrichment Data:
- The Club World Cup will replace the Intercontinental Club Cup.
- The Committee decided to expand the tournament from 7 to 24 teams from 2025 onwards.
- The selection process relies on two main criteria: winning the continental title within the qualifying window or achieving a high ranking based on performances over the qualifying period.
- The number of allotted spots varies for each confederation—Europe (UEFA), South America (CONMEBOL), North and Central America (CONCACAF), Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), and Oceania (OFC).
- Countries can only send two teams to the Club World Cup, considering exception if three or four clubs from the same country win the UEFA Champions League over the period.
- Liverpool, FC Barcelona, and AC Milan failed to qualify due to limited spots, preference given to the most recent Champions League winners, and insufficient UEFA ranking compared to other European clubs.
The European Union's football giants, such as Liverpool, FC Barcelona, and AC Milan, will not participate in the Club World Cup of 2025, as their UEFA rankings and lack of recent Champions League wins failed to secure them a spot. On the other hand, European-leagues contenders like Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester City have qualified due to their Champions League victories and superior UEFA rankings.
