Asia and Europe take centre stage in FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ qualification race
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The inaugural Mundial de Clubes FIFA™ is set for the United States in 2025
Nineteen out of 32 clubs have secured their spot at the tournament
Matches in the UEFA Champions League and AFC Champions League could further narrow the field over the next seven days
Qualification for the inaugural 32-team edition of FIFA’s new prime club competition, Mundial de Clubes FIFA™ (FIFA Club World Cup™), is well underway with many key fixtures to be played over the coming weeks.
Nineteen clubs have already locked in their place. Oceania (OFC) is the only confederation that has no more slots left to fill, however places in Europe (UEFA), Asia (AFC), South America (CONMEBOL), North, Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf), Asia (AFC), and Africa (CAF) are still up for grabs.
We highlight the key fixtures being played over the next week.
4 March
Al Ain v Al Nassr
5 March
FC Bayern München v SS Lazio
Real Sociedad de Fútbol v Paris Saint-Germain FC
Jeonbuk Motors v Ulsan HD FC
6 March
Real Madrid CF v Rasen Ballsport Leipzig
11 March
Al Nassr v Al Ain
12 March
FC Barcelona v SSC Napoli
Ulsan HD FC v Jeonbuk Motors
13 March
Borussia Dortmund v PSV Eindhoven
Club Atlético de Madrid v FC Internazionale Milano
Italy
SSC Napoli and SS Lazio are still active in the UCL and can clinch their spot by winning the competition. They can also qualify via the ranking pathway.
For Lazio to have a chance of claiming the spot, they would need to make it to the UCL final, and claim an additional 12 ranking points on that journey. Lazio currently lead FC Bayern München 1-0 following their first-leg home match and will travel to Germany on 5 March.
If Lazio fail to accrue 12 more points, Napoli could secure qualification by winning two more matches in the UCL. They are currently locked at 1-1 following their first leg home match against FC Barcelona (ESP) and will play the return leg in Spain on 12 March.
Juventus are currently leading the rankings but cannot earn any further points. They would qualify if Barcelona and Bayern win their ties in March.
Spain
For Real Sociedad to qualify they must win the UCL this season, as they are not in the running to qualify through the ranking pathway. They will look to overcome a 2-0 deficit when they host PSG on 5 March.
Both Club Atlético de Madrid and Barcelona can still qualify via both pathways.
Atlético are in the box seat and could seal their spot if results go their way. If Barcelona and Real Sociedad are both eliminated in the Round of 16, then Atlético – who will face Inter on 13 March following their 1-0 loss in Milan on 20 February – will qualify for the Mundial de Clubes FIFA.
As for Barcelona, they must reach the semi-finals of the UCL while hoping that Atlético and Real Sociedad stumble. The Blaugrana will host Napoli on 12 March after a 1-1 draw in Italy on 21 February.
Germany
BV Borussia 09 Dortmund and Rasen Ballsport Leipzig are the two clubs in the running to join the already qualified (based on ranking) Bayern as Germany’s representatives at the Mundial de Clubes FIFA.
Leipzig – who travel to Spain on 6 March following their 1-0 home loss against Real Madrid – must reach at least the semi-finals of the UCL to have a chance of overhauling
Dortmund, who host PSV on 13 March after a 1-1 draw in first leg. Any other outcome will result in Dortmund taking the spot.
Asia (AFC)
Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Ulsan HD FC (KOR) and Al Nassr (KSA) are the three clubs still in the running to qualify via rankings, with all three also having a chance to qualify as ACL winners, which is currently at the quarter-final stage.
Jeonbuk take on Ulsan in an all-Korea Republic quarter-final (on 5 and 12 March), with Jeonbuk slightly ahead of Ulsan in the rankings – meaning they will secure qualification by winning this tie.
For Ulsan to qualify, they will need to defeat Jeonbuk in this tie, and will likely need to score points in the semi-final, too. Alternatively, if Al Hilal – who face Al Ittihad FC on 5 and 12 March – win this edition of the ACL, then that would open up an additional rankings spot in Asia, which would allow both sides to potentially go through.
While it is mathematically possible for Al Nassr to qualify via rankings, they are relying on Al Hilal winning the ACL to open up a second ranking spot, Jeonbuk preventing Ulsan from progressing, and then claiming enough points themselves to overtake Ulsan. Al Nassr – who meet Al Ain (UAE) on 4 and 11 March – could also potentially grab second spot in the rankings if Ulsan eliminate Jeonbuk with minimum points before being eliminated in the semi-finals. Al Nassr would then need to earn enough points to exceed Ulsan’s total.
