FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Why are Barcelona not part of the football showpiece event?

The new-look FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will include 32 football clubs from across the globe but there will be no FC Barcelona in the competition. We explain why the La Liga champions Barcelona are not a part of the tournament. read more

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be played in the USA without giants FC Barcelona. Image: Reuters

The revamped FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will have some of the best 32 teams from across the globe fighting for glory in the United States. The tournament with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami taking on Egypt’s Al Ahly. However, one of the biggest football clubs from the world is missing from the scene – FC Barcelona.

It’s stunning that Barcelona, who are five-time UEFA Champions League winners, are not going to be a part of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which will include 12 teams from Europe including Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid from Spain.

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Even teams like European clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus, who failed to win their respective domestic leagues this season, will also be there in the USA to take part in the Club World Cup. But La Liga champions Barcelona are not a part of the tournament.

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Why are Barcelona not a part of the FIFA Club World Cup?

Barcelona were edged out by domestic rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, who earned Spain’s two available slots. Real Madrid secured their place by winning the UEFA Champions League in both 2021–22 and 2023–

Atletico, meanwhile, booked their ticket by amassing more UEFA coefficient points than Barcelona over the four-year qualification window starting from the 2020–21 season.

Barcelona’s absence is largely due to their failure to make a deep impact in Europe during this period, having not lifted the Champions League trophy once in the last four years. The next realistic shot for Barça to return to the Club World Cup stage will come in 2029.

Here are the 12 European teams in 2025 Club World Cup:

Chelsea (England)

Real Madrid (Spain)

Manchester City (England)

Bayern Munich (Germany)

Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Inter Milan (Italy)

Porto (Portugal)

Atlético Madrid (Spain)

Benfica (Portugal)

Juventus (Italy)

Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)

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