Club World Cup, new formula: big tournament for 32 teams every four years, in the other three light format – Football

In addition to that of the 2026 World Cup, the Club World Cup. The FIFA Council defined the methods of participation for the new format of the tournament which from 2025 will be played by 32 teams. There will be 12 European teams, while 6 places will go to the South Americans, but it has also been established that there will also be an annual club world cup with the Champions League winning team having direct access to the final.

New Club World Cup, the criteria

The FIFA Council has unanimously approved the key principles of access to the 32-team draw with the aim of guaranteeing the highest quality based on sporting criteria. Taking into consideration the four-year period of the seasons ending in 2021 and 2024, the methods of participation are as follows: for confederations with more than four slots (Europe 12 places, South America 6): access for the champions of the previous four editions of the championship confederation (Champions) and additional squads determined by a club classification based on the same four-year period. For confederations with four slots (Asia, Africa, North America) access for the champions of the previous four editions of the confederation’s main club competition. For confederations with one place (Oceania) entry for the club with the highest ranking among the champions of the confederation’s top club competition in the four-year period. Finally, for the host country, access for the club occupying this slot will be determined at a later stage.

Club World Cup is played every year

As the current version of the FIFA Club World Cup will be discontinued after the 2023 edition and given the need expressed by the confederations for the champions of their main club competitions to play each other annually to stimulate competitiveness, the FIFA Council has approved The strategic concept of an annual FIFA club competition starting in 2024 is unanimously agreed. This competition will see the participation of the champions of major club competitions from all confederations and will conclude with a final to be played on neutral ground, between the winner of the Champions League and the winner of the intercontinental play-offs among other confederations.