FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced plans for a new Club World Cup in 2025 involving 32 teams, with Liverpool and Arsenal potentially taking part.
The Swiss-Italian had initially intended to change the format of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021 when he announced plans in 2017 to alter the tournament to a 24-team competition, with China hosting.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted those plans.
Now, with things returning to normal slightly, Infantino has resurrected his new idea – let’s take a look at the details…
Club World Cup 2025
Well, as things stand, the FIFA Club World Cup involves just seven teams, and is usually held in December.
The winners of the following competitions go head to head in an attempt to win the FIFA Club World Cup.
- UEFA Champions League (Europe)
- AFC Champions League (Asia)
- CAF Champions League (Africa)
- CONCACAF Champions League (North, Central America and Caribbean)
- CONMEBOL Libertadores (South America)
- OFC Champions League (Oceania)
- Host nation’s domestic champions
However, from 2025 onwards, Infantino plans to make the tournament a 32-team competition, and intends for it to take place during the summer.
Speaking at a press conference in Qatar ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and France, the 52-year-old said: “The new men’s Club World Cup will take place in 2025 and will feature 32 teams. The 32-team tournament will go ahead, making it like a World Cup.”
The winners of the seven aforementioned tournaments will continue to take part in the new format, while it is presumed that the other 25 sides will come from winners of the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, and also domestic champions.
Past winners of the FIFA Club World Cup – Liverpool reigned supreme back in 2021, while Chelsea won it in 2022 – could also be involved.
If Arsenal lift the Premier League this season, and go on to either retain their crown in 2025 or win a European competition in that time, they are also likely to take part in the new format.
New Club World Cup will cause disruption
It may still be three years away, but we can assure you that the top managers across Europe will be frustrated by this news.
Take Jürgen Klopp, for example.
The German has often complained about the congested fixture schedule, so he will surely be furious to learn that his pre-season sessions will now be affected from even more fixtures in 2025 onwards.
Be sure to keep an eye on HITC Football for further updates regarding the new FIFA Club World Cup format.
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