2025 FIFA Club World Cup, USA (first 32-team edition)

[amenina]

https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/organis ... n-football

Following the decision taken by the FIFA Council in December 2022 to expand the FIFA Club World Cup™ from 24 to 32 teams, with the first such edition set to take place in June-July 2025, the Council unanimously approved the respective slot allocation. The decision was taken based on a set of objective metrics and criteria, and the resulting allocation is as follows: AFC: 4, CAF: 4, Concacaf: 4, CONMEBOL: 6, OFC: 1, UEFA: 12 and tournament host: 1.

[Jackson Harrison]

The means by which the participating teams are chosen hasn't yet been determined, I propose the following points system, which would take into account performances in the four years preceding the CWC:

Code: Select all

UEFA:
12- UCL Winner
11- UCL 2nd
9.5- UCL SF
8- UEL Winner
7- UEL 2nd
5.5- UEL SF
4- UECL Winner
3- UECL 2nd
1.5- UECL SF

CONCACAF/CAF/AFC/CONMEBOL:
8- CL Winner
7- CL 2nd
5.5- CL SF
4- 2nd CC Winner
3- 2nd CC 2nd
1.5- 2nd CC SF

OFC:
4- O-League Winner
3- O-League 2nd
1.5- O-League SF

The X teams with the most points qualify. With X being the numbers of slits allocated to that confederation!


@amenina Any thoughts??

[rpo.castro]

To be hosted by USA

[Lorric]

I'll be surprised if this thing actually happens.

[Jackson Harrison]

I'll be surprised if this thing actually happens.

What makes you think it won't?

[Lorric]

I'll be surprised if this thing actually happens.

What makes you think it won't?

European clubs won't want it.

[Jackson Harrison]

I'll be surprised if this thing actually happens.

What makes you think it won't?

European clubs won't want it.

If it means more money then why wouldn't they?

It will be fun to watch and will crown a real World Champion. I have no issues with it.

With the current 7-team format I'm often switched off as I know before it starts who's going to win! (Sometimes the SA/Asian teams come close but not consistently)

[Forza AZ]

European clubs won't want it.

That is very hypocritical, since they do play meaningless friendlies in Asia and the USA just to collect extra money.

[Jackson Harrison]

European clubs won't want it.

That is very hypocritical, since they do play meaningless friendlies in Asia and the USA just to collect extra money.

Exactly. The maximum number of games at the CWC is 7 - European teams normally play about that amount of games in America anyway so don't see how it's any different!

[Lorric]

European clubs won't want it.

That is very hypocritical, since they do play meaningless friendlies in Asia and the USA just to collect extra money.

Exactly. The maximum number of games at the CWC is 7 - European teams normally play about that amount of games in America anyway so don't see how it's any different!

It's different because those are played at a gentle pace with huge rotation.

[Jackson Harrison]

That is very hypocritical, since they do play meaningless friendlies in Asia and the USA just to collect extra money.

Exactly. The maximum number of games at the CWC is 7 - European teams normally play about that amount of games in America anyway so don't see how it's any different!

It's different because those are played at a gentle pace with huge rotation.

Maybe they could allow more than 5 subs?

[amenina]

I have changed the title of the thread.

[amenina]

Qualified teams

UEFA (12 teams)
Chelsea (England) - 2020/21 champions
Real Madrid (Spain) - 2021/22 champions
Manchester City (England) - 2022/23 champions
TBD - 2023/24 champions
8 more teams to be chosen by ranking formula based on results in 4-year cycle

CONMEBOL (6 teams)
Palmeiras (Brazil) - 2021 champions
Flamengo (Brazil) - 2022 champions
TBD - 2023 champions
TBD - 2024 champions
2 more teams to be chosen by ranking formula based on results in 4-year cycle

AFC (4 teams)
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) - 2021 champions
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) - 2022 champions
TBD - 2023/24 champions
1 more team to be chosen by ranking formula based on results in 4-year cycle (as only 3 tournaments held in 4-year cycle due to change in calendar)

CAF (4 teams)
Al Ahly (Egypt) - 2020/21 and 2022/23 champions
Wydad AC (Morocco) - 2021/22 champions
TBD - 2023/24 champions
1 more team to be chosen by ranking formula based on results in 4-year cycle (as Al Ahly win 2 tournaments in 4-year cycle)

CONCACAF (4 teams)
Monterrey (Mexico) - 2021 champions
Seattle Sounders (USA) - 2022 champions
Leon (Mexico) - 2023 champions
TBD - 2024 champions

OFC (1 team)
TBD - to be chosen among tournament champions by ranking formula based on results in 4-year cycle; either 2022 and 2023 champions Auckland City (New Zealand) or 2024 champions (2021 tournament not held due to COVID-19 pandemic)

Host (1 team)
TBD - criteria to be confirmed

Note: If any of the future tournaments are won by a team already qualified as previous tournament champions, the slot will be redistributed by ranking formula based on results in 4-year cycle.

There is a restriction of two teams per country, except for tournament champions. As England, Brazil and Mexico already have two tournament champions qualified, other teams from these countries cannot qualify by ranking formula, but can only qualify as future tournament champions.

[amenina]

@Jackson Harrison posted in another thread. I put it here.

https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/organis ... -world-cup

FIFA Council appoints United States as host of new and expanded FIFA Club World Cup

32-team tournament to be played in 2025

Hosting requirements for FIFA World Cup 2030™ approved

FIFA World Cup 2030™ bidding process to start in Q3 2023, with appointment of host(s) expected in Q4 2024

Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition approved


The FIFA Council has unanimously appointed the United States as the host of the new and expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup that is due to take place in 2025, at its meeting held by videoconference from the Home of FIFA.

The host selection process took into consideration the infrastructure and service requirements, as well as broader strategic objectives for the tournament.

The decision was reached based on the United States’ position as a proven leader in staging global events and because it would allow FIFA to maximise synergies with the delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, to the benefit of both tournaments and the development of football in the North American region. As a next step, FIFA will engage with the relevant stakeholders to finalise the dates, venues and match schedule of this new tournament.

“The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of elite professional men’s club football, and with the required infrastructure in place together with a massive local interest, the United States is the ideal host to kick off this new, global tournament,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “With some of the world’s top clubs already qualified, fans from every continent will be bringing their passion and energy to the United States in two years’ time for this significant milestone in our mission to make football truly global.”

The slot allocation per confederation and the key principles of access were already confirmed by the FIFA Council earlier this year.

FIFA World Cup 2030™ bidding process
To ensure additional consultation with all key stakeholders, in relation to the FIFA World Cup 2030™, which will mark the centenary of men’s football’s showpiece tournament, the FIFA Council agreed to postpone the formal launch of the bidding process. Therefore, the relevant Bidding Regulations will be presented for approval at the next FIFA Council meeting, due to take place in September/October 2023, with the bidding process to be officially launched thereafter. The expected appointment of the host(s) by the FIFA Congress will also move from Q3 2024 to Q4 2024.

The FIFA Council also approved the Overview of Hosting Requirements for the FIFA World Cup 2030™, which was prepared by the FIFA administration to allow all interested member associations to better understand the requirements for hosting the competition, including with regard to the required infrastructure, the legal framework that must be established and the environmental and social objectives that should be pursued.

Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition approved
The FIFA Council also approved the Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition, which kicks off in September 2023.

“With 48 teams participating in the next FIFA World Cup, the tournament will have an unprecedented impact on world football, especially as more nations will have the opportunity to secure their place to shine on the global stage,” said President Infantino.

Hosts of FIFA Congress and tournaments
Additionally, the FIFA Council confirmed that the 74th FIFA Congress, due to take place on 17 May 2024, will be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Council also appointed Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023™, Colombia as the host of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024™, the Dominican Republic as the host of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024™ and Uzbekistan as the host of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024™. The time frame for the respective competitions will be confirmed in due course.

The dates of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2023™, which is due to take place in the United Arab Emirates, were moved from 16-26 November 2023 to 15–25 February 2024.
[/quote]

[amenina]

I'll be surprised if this thing actually happens.

What makes you think it won't?

European clubs won't want it.

The European Club Association already signed a MoU with FIFA, saying they support the new 32-team format.

https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/organis ... g-with-eca

The MoU includes a renewed commitment by clubs to adhere to the International Match Calendar, which received the unanimous approval of the FIFA Council on 14 March 2023, until 2030, and ECA confirmed their support for the new FIFA Club World Cup from 2025, featuring 12 European clubs, a yearly game between the winner of the UEFA Champions League and the winner of an intercontinental play-off and a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup to be created.