FIFA has revealed plans for the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in 2025, set to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13.
The revamped tournament will include clubs from all six confederations, with Europe contributing 12 teams. Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City, as recent Champions League winners, have secured automatic qualification.
Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, and Benfica have also earned spots through the coefficient pathway. The announcement, made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, coincided with the decision to hold the competition in the same slot as the former Confederations Cup, a year before the World Cup.
The summer dates align with the international match calendar and allow adequate rest before domestic seasons begin.
The European Clubs’ Association supports the tournament, but criticism has arisen regarding player welfare. Maheta Molango, head of the Professional Footballers’ Association, expressed concern, stating that players have become pawns in a battle for football’s primacy.
FIFA’s decision to proceed with the expansion is seen as disregarding players’ personal and family lives. FIFA President Infantino also announced a new Intercontinental Cup scheduled for December 2024, where Champions League winners will face a team emerging from intercontinental play-offs.
The Club World Cup, traditionally held annually with seven teams from six confederations, will see treble winners Manchester City face Urawa Red Diamonds in Saudi Arabia on December 19.
The expansion has drawn criticism from FIFA and concerns about the mental and physical toll on players, including exhaustion, injuries, mental health issues, diminished performance, and risks to career longevity.
Source: BBC Sports
