The Ultimate FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Quiz: Qualification, Teams & Controversies
The FIFA Club World Cup is getting a full reboot. Forget the old seven-team format in 2025, it becomes a 32-team tournament held every four years, debuting in the United States from June 14/15 to July 13. With matches spread across major stadiums like Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium (opener) and New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium (final), it’s being positioned as the “World Cup of Clubs” and a warm-up for the 2026 World Cup.
The format mirrors the traditional FIFA World Cup: eight groups of four, top two from each move into the Round of 16, knockout style to the final. There’s no third-place match.
How Did Teams Qualify?
Qualification was based on club performances from 2021 to 2024 not current form. There were two paths in:
- Champions Pathway: Win your confederation’s top tournament (e.g., UCL, Libertadores) during that 4-year window.
- Ranking Pathway: Based on club performance in continental tournaments across the same window UEFA used coefficients; others used a points system (wins, draws, progression).
Slot Distribution (32 Total)
- UEFA: 12
- CONMEBOL: 6
- AFC / CAF / Concacaf: 4 each
- OFC: 1
- Host (USA): 1
A key rule: Country Cap max 2 clubs per nation via rankings. But if more than two clubs won continental titles, they’re in regardless. That’s why Brazil has four teams. England and Spain, despite strong clubs, are capped.
Who Missed Out and Why?
Big names like Liverpool and Barcelona are out — not because of poor current form, but due to the qualification rules.
- Liverpool missed out because England’s spots were taken by Chelsea (2021 UCL winners) and Manchester City (2023). Country cap blocked them.
- Barcelona were edged out by Atlético Madrid in UEFA rankings. With Real Madrid qualifying as a double UCL winner, Spain’s quota was filled.
Other notable absentees: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli all fell short on ranking or got blocked by the country cap.
Meanwhile, teams like FC Salzburg and Palmeiras got in thanks to the points-based system or their continental wins.
Off the Pitch: Politics, Power, and Problems
The tournament’s expansion has raised concerns from fixture congestion to player burnout, especially with a packed football calendar. Critics, including FIFPRO, see this as a money move more than a footballing necessity. There’s also been drama like Club León’s disqualification due to multi-club ownership issues which points to governance concerns.
This isn’t just a tournament it’s a puzzle. From outdated qualifications to surprising exclusions, the 2025 edition is shaping up to be one of the most complex football events ever.
Ready to Prove Your Club World Cup IQ?
Our FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Quiz features 15 questions that dive deep into the tournament’s history and latest format. Expect to revisit some iconic past editions, understand the nitty-gritty of this new structure, and test your knowledge of which clubs. If you think you know your stuff from legendary champions to the most controversial absences this quiz is for you.
Only true football brains will get a perfect score. Are you up for it ?
Take the quiz and prove your Club World Cup IQ.
