In the past few hours, FIFA released an official announcement regarding the available spot in the upcoming Club World Cup.
This decision came after Mexican side Club León was disqualified from the tournament for breaching its regulations. Specifically, they violated Article 10, which forbids “time-sharing” agreements. FIFA’s announcement was interpreted by many as a subtle message to Barcelona, a club that had shown interest in participating despite not qualifying through regular means.
FIFA expressed satisfaction with the recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which rejected the appeals submitted by Pachuca, León, and Alajuelense concerning their eligibility for the 2025 Club World Cup.
Rather than extending an invitation to a European club — as some rumors had suggested might happen with either Liverpool or Barcelona — FIFA chose to settle the matter internally within the CONCACAF region.
The vacant spot will now be contested through a single playoff match between Club América, currently the highest-ranked CONCACAF club according to FIFA rankings, and Los Angeles FC, who finished as runners-up in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League. This outcome officially rules out any last-minute inclusion of Barcelona in the restructured tournament.
Speculation had been building around the idea that Barcelona or Liverpool could receive a special invitation to participate. However, FIFA’s confirmation that the spot would remain within the CONCACAF confederation put those rumors to rest.
The Club World Cup is scheduled to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. This edition is particularly notable for being the largest ever, with 32 clubs competing for the prestigious title. Notable entrants include Real Madrid, aiming to extend their record as the most successful club in the tournament’s history with five titles. Their first fixture is set for June 18 against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. Spain will also be represented by Atlético Madrid.
The group stage for the tournament has already been drawn. Among the highlights: Palmeiras, Porto, and Inter Miami share a group, while Bayern Munich is grouped alongside Auckland City, Boca Juniors, and Benfica.
Manchester City will face the likes of Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain, and Juventus. The competition promises not only intense football action but also unprecedented prize money, with the winning club set to earn a record €120 million, establishing it as the most lucrative club competition worldwide.
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