Why Are Barcelona Not In FIFA Club World Cup 2025? Who Are Other Big Teams To Miss USA Gala?

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the United States is set to start on 14 June, and this edition will be the biggest one yet after a format expansion to include 32 teams, including heavyweights like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich. (More Football News)

However, despite some of the biggest clubs in the world vying for a record USD 1 billion prize pool, one big name is conspicuously absent: FC Barcelona.

The Blaugrana have all but secured a domestic treble after their recent 4-3 win against Real Madrid put them seven points clear at the top of La Liga, and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-final before being eliminated by Inter Milan.

Despite the massive success enjoyed by Hansi Flick’s men, they will not be on the plane to USA for the Club World Cup, and that’s all down to a rule change by FIFA before this edition.

The rule stipulated that a maximum of two clubs per country can progress to the Club World Cup, unless more than two have won the Champions League during the qualification period.

With Real Madrid securing their place by winning the Champions League in 2022 and 2024, and Atletico Madrid outperforming Barcelona in UEFA’s four-year club coefficient rankings, the Catalan giants, who were underwhelming in previous European competitions, miss out on the Club World Cup 2025.

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – Big Teams To Miss Out On Qualification

Liverpool

English Premier League 2024-25 winners Liverpool will also miss out on the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 due to the rule of having a maximum of two clubs per country. Despite reaching the Champions League final in 2022, the Reds were edged out by Manchester City and Chelsea, who won the Champions League in 2023 and 2021, respectively.

Arsenal

Another Premier League giant to miss out on FIFA Club World Cup 2025 qualification, Arsenal’s massive resurgence has yet to materialise into trophies. Mikel Arteta’s men have finished two EPL campaigns in second place, and are second this season as well. Meanwhile, they reached the Champions League semi-final as well. However, a lack of titles means they did not qualify.

Al-Nassr

Despite boasting one of the all-time greats in Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr failed to qualify for the Club World Cup 2025 as the Saudi Pro League side neither won the AFC Champions League nor topped their domestic league during the qualification period. Consequently, Al-Hilal, who achieved better results in both competitions, secured the sole spot allocated to Saudi Arabia.

Sporting CP

Another victim of FIFA’s two-club ruling, Sporting Club, who won two Portuguese Primeira Ligas in three years and are likely to defend that title this year as well, did not qualify for the upcoming Club World Cup. Instead, the two spots assigned to Portugal went to FC Porto and Benfica, who outperformed Sporting in UEFA competitions.