The upcoming 32-team Club World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States from June to July 2025, has already seen 22 teams qualify, including prominent English clubs Manchester City and Chelsea. Despite the absence of Liverpool and Manchester United, Arsenal still has an opportunity to secure their place by winning the Champions League.
Atletico Madrid’s recent qualification for the esteemed tournament has placed pressure on Arsenal to ensure their position. The Spanish club’s entry was confirmed following Barcelona’s elimination from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, despite Atletico’s own loss to Borussia Dortmund.
The redesigned Club World Cup promises to be an exhilarating competition, with teams from all six confederations competing for the title. European representation is expected to be significant, with 12 spots available. Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Chelsea have already secured their positions as recent Champions League winners, leaving nine more spots to be filled based on club performances in the tournament.
The winner of the upcoming Champions League will claim one of these spots, and the next highest-ranked team on the qualification pathway – currently Atletico Madrid – will join them in the United States. This leaves Arsenal with one clear path to qualification: winning this season’s Champions League, starting with a crucial showdown against Bayern Munich in the quarter-final second leg.
If Arsenal falls short in their pursuit of European glory, FC Salzburg stands to claim the 12th and final European spot. Despite being ranked below powerhouse clubs such as Liverpool, Barcelona, and AC Milan, FIFA’s regulations restrict countries to a maximum of two entries unless they have multiple continental champions.
The Club World Cup will notably be without the likes of Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, and AC Milan, as well as star players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are unable to participate with their respective clubs Inter Miami and Al Nassr. On the other hand, the South American contingent boasts the presence of storied teams such as Flamengo, Palmeiras, and River Plate, with Seattle Sounders and Mexican sides Club Leon and Monterrey adding to the tournament’s global appeal.
In Asia, Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds have secured their places, while African representation will come from Al Ahly of Egypt and Wydad of Morocco. Finally, Auckland City will proudly represent Oceania on the world stage.
The Club World Cup promises to be a thrilling and diverse competition, bringing together top clubs from around the globe in a battle for supremacy. As the qualification race intensifies, football fans can anticipate an enthralling tournament that will showcase the best of football on an international scale.