Why have Chelsea qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?

As if there wasn’t enough football already, the reformatted and expanded FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 will bring more action to our screens.

The competition, which will take place in the United States, will see the leading nations from the six continental confederations go head-to-head every four years in a World Cup-like format.

Chelsea are one of the teams that will travel to North America in search of silverware in the new competition, which is a drastic departure from the Club World Cup previously witnessed in recent years.

But why are Chelsea, who finished sixth in the Premier League last season and are without a trophy, competing at the 2025 Club World Cup?

Despite disappointing recent campaigns, Chelsea will take part in the Club World Cup 2025. The reason for this is very simple, as the last four winners of the UEFA Champions League guarantee qualification for the inaugural event .

This means Chelsea’s success in 2020/21 has earned them a place in the competition and they are joined by fellow European winners Manchester City and Real Madrid, who won the competition in 2022 and 2024.

Reports have suggested that the qualifying clubs will earn €50 million to reach the tournament and the winner could earn up to €100 million. Chelsea aren’t strapped for cash, that’s for sure, but it’s a healthy bonus that will be used next summer.

The much-changed 2025 Club World Cup is almost unrecognizable from its predecessor. The tournament now contains 32 teams from around the world instead of just seven teams in the previous iteration of the competition.

Teams will be divided into four groups of eight and compete in a classic league table before entering the knockout rounds of the competition. The six federations will have at least one representative.

Past Club World Cups have been held at the end of the calendar year, but the next edition will take place between 15 June and 13 July 2025.

The Club World Cup was held annually and contested Champions League winners from each confederation, but the new format will occur every four years.

The previous format of the Club World Cup has been retained, however, renamed as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The inaugural tournament takes place at the end of 2024 and is contested by the six continental Champions League winners.

All 32 teams have already qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup after Brazilian side Botafogo secured their place by winning the Copa Libertadores for the first time in its 123-year history. They are one of six CONMEBOL teams that will join the 12 UEFA clubs.

Auckland City is the sole OFC representative, while the AFC has four nations involved. CAF also has four teams involved, but CONCACAF has been awarded five places in the competition – Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have earned their place through nationality status and as shield winners of MLS 2024 supporters.

All teams qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup

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