The FIFA Club World Cup has undergone much development over the years. It has been renovated and restructured since the year 2000 to adapt to the worldwide growth of FootballFootball. One of the most overwhelming changes that the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will face is in the process.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the 21st edition. In this article, we examine what the changes to the Club World Cup really amount to for players, clubs, and fans.
Kate Richardson, an expert in Football and sports culture, has written this insightful post to elucidate the FIFA Club World Cup and its revolutions.
History of the FIFA Club World Cup
The first edition of the Tournament was held in 2000 and was called the Toyota Cup (Intercontinental Cup). This was the de facto global championship for clubs. Organized by UEFA and CONMEBOL, the football governing body in South America, it was contested between the winners of the European Cup- popularly known as UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores. This was an edition that had eight teams involved and was held in Brazil. There was a lot of criticism for not being allowed for any other continental clubs to take part, which meant that this eventually got replaced. Corinthians defeated Vasco da Gama in the Final.
In spite of its potential, the Tournament’s financial difficulties (due to the collapse of FIFA’s marketing partner, International Sports and Leisure) and organizational challenges delayed its subsequent editions, and another did not hold until 2005.
Evolution from 2005-2024
The Club World Cup ushered in the Modern Era in 2005 to replace the Toyota Intercontinental Cup. The Tournament had a name change and seven teams featuring champions from six Continental federations and league winners of the host nation.
Club World Cup Stats
Here are some Club World Cup stats for you:
- Three clubs have emerged in the Final of the competition more than once with a 100% success rate. Corinthians, 2000 and 2012; Real Madrid, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022; Bayern Munich, 2013, 2020
- Toni Kroos is the all-time player appearance in the final with six appearances: once with Bayern Munich in 2013, and then with Real Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022, with him winning all.
- The last name in the all-time manager’s list is Pep Guardiola, with four appearances. He appeared in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2023 and emerged as the winner four times.
- Real Madrid holds a record for the highest Club World Cup wins, having won 5 times in succession-three successive trophies in the years 2016, 2017, and 2018. Barcelona followed it with three wins in 2009, 2011, and 2015.
- Here is the complete list of Final results from 2000-2023 and the Club World Cup winners (Club World Cup Winners are written in bold)
| Year | Final Result | Host |
| 2000 | Corinthians 0 (4) – 0 (3) Vasco da Gama | Brazil |
| 2005 | Sao Paulo 1 – 0 Liverpool | Japan |
| 2006 | Internacional 1 – 0 Barcelona | Japan |
| 2007 | Milan 4 -2 Boca Juniors | Japan |
| 2008 | Manchester United 1 – 0 LDU Quito | Japan |
| 2009 | Barcelona 2 – 1 Estudiantes | United Arab Emirates |
| 2010 | Internazionale 3 – 0 OTP Mazembe | United Arab Emirates |
| 2011 | Barcelona 4 – 0 Santos | Japan |
| 2012 | Corinthians 1 – 0 Chelsea | Japan |
| 2013 | Bayern Munich 2 – 0 Raja Casablanca | Morocco |
| 2014 | Real Madrid 2 – 0 San Lorenzo | Morocco |
| 2015 | Barcelona 3 – 0 River Plate | Japan |
| 2016 | Real Madrid 4 – 2 Kashima Antlers | Japan |
| 2017 | Real Madrid 1 – 0 Gremio | United Arab Emirates |
| 2018 | Real Madrid 4 – 1 Al-Ain | United Arab Emirates |
| 2019 | Liverpool 1 – 0 Flamengo | Qatar |
| 2020 | Bayern Munich 1 – 0 UANL | Qatar |
| 2021 | Chelsea 2 – 1 Palmeiras | United Arab Emirates |
| 2022 | Real Madrid 5 – 3 Alhilal | Morocco |
| 2023 | Manchester City 4 – 0 Fluminense | South Africa |
How does the Club World Cup work?
The Club World Cup is an annual tournament organized by the Global Football governing body called FIFA. It involves seven teams, with each being a club champion in their respective continent. In this tournament, the participating teams play in straight knockouts with preliminary and quarterfinal rounds until the final, when the winner is determined, is reached.
The 2025 tournament will be held in the United States, just a year before they co-host the World Cup with Mexico. The Tournament is scheduled to run from June 14th to July 13th.
Novel Initiatives
The Tournament is going through a significant surgical change. These revolutions further have drawn several controversies. Among the essential new introductions that have gone into the Tournament:
Expansion teams and format: Another significant development within the 2025 Club World Cup tournament is that more teams will be involved, ranging from the current 7 to 32 teams. The last four winners of each continental championship will feature. In this regard, the Tournament has also been expanded to be played every four years, like the FIFA World Cup.
New Format: The 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four teams each. In each group, the teams would face each other on a round-robin basis. The top two teams enter the Round of 16. If scores are level at the end of the expected time in the Knockouts- R of 16, Quarter Finals, and Semifinals, Extra time is played. If there is still a deadlock after Extra Time, winners shall be decided on the basis of Penalty shootouts. There shall not be any 3rd place play-off.
Twelve places were left for European clubs, which stands as the highest quota for confederations. A continental allocation of four club places comes for Asia, Africa, North America, and Central America. Six went to South American clubs, and one went to Oceania. At the same time, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami picked up the host nation slot.
Some of the participating teams in this year’s edition include Chelsea and Manchester City, both premier league heavyweights, Real Madrid, Fluminense, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund, among others.
Even sports lovers pay attention to these changes, as the novel initiatives also impact the gambling world. Whether you’re curious about what you should know about parlays or considering opening a fresh bet slip, you want to understand the new dynamics of the sports world and how to leverage that to stake smartly.
Controversies
Since the introduction of the FIFA Club World Cup on the world stage, much criticism has been thrown at the competition.
The first reason that invited Inter Miami to the Club World Cup right on the heels of some is what interpreted the MLS campaign as a manner for FIFA to make sure that Lionel Messi would feature in the Tournament.
Also, on some FIFA Club World Cup news, FIFA is presently under litigation by club World Cup players, unions, and leagues concerning the staging of the Tournament. FIFA Club World Cup News According to The Athletic, many clubs already face impossible-to-navigate schedules, especially in Europe, where elite players might have to work through a domestic season including multiple domestic cups, the Champions League, and an International tournament in the same calendar year. That would mean that Club World Cup players receive only a little rest period once every four years.
FIFPro (the body that represents professional footballers across the globe) has moved to bring legal action against FIFA. Also, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the PFA, subsequently filed legal action as Chief Executive Maheta Molango spoke strongly on the importance of breaks for players.
“Everyone in football knows that the fixture calendar is broken to the point that it has now become unworkable,” Said Molango.
“There are too many emerging instances across football where the rights of players and the legal implications of decisions by governing bodies and competition organizers are seen as something that can just be ignored.”
The CEO of the Premier League, Richard Masters, joined in criticizing FIFA for not consulting clubs on such changes, saying players are concerned for their well-being.
“The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played; if you pour more liquid into the cup that’s already full, it will overflow,” Said Masters, Reported by The Athletic.
There have also been questions raised as to how the Tournament of Nations will handle contracts due to the expired contracts during the CWC that would make some players free agents by June 2025.
Conclusion
The upcoming club World Cup, with its controversies, does make the future of the Tournament very bright. It’s a tournament that makes sure to keep every single match thrilling to watch.
