What is the FIFA Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup is the tournament that names a world club champion. From 2000 to 2023 it was a short annual event for the six confederation champions and a host club; the FIFA Council rebuilt it as a 32-club competition played every four years, appointed the United States as first host, and the 2025 edition ran from 14 June to 13 July at twelve venues in eleven US cities. FIFA calls it the pinnacle of elite professional men’s club football.[1] [3] [6]
How does it work?
Thirty-two clubs are drawn into eight groups of four; the top two in each group go into a round of 16 and the tournament proceeds through quarter-finals and semi-finals to a one-off final — 63 matches in all. Places are allocated by confederation (twelve for UEFA, six for CONMEBOL, four each for the AFC, CAF and Concacaf, one for the OFC and one for the host) and filled by continental champions of the preceding four years plus a ranking pathway. FIFA has signalled an expansion beyond 32 clubs for 2029, but the host and the final size were not confirmed as of September 2026.[3] [5] [7]
Since when does it exist?
The first edition was played in Brazil in 2000, nothing followed until 2005, and the seven-club annual format then ran to 2023, latterly in the Gulf, Morocco and Japan. Its predecessor was the Intercontinental Cup between the European and South American champions, played from 1960 to 2004, whose winners FIFA recognised as club world champions in 2017. Chelsea’s 2025 win was their second, after 2021; Real Madrid won three in a row from 2016.[4] [5]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Chelsea | Final: 3–0 vs Paris Saint-Germain — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, 13 July 2025 (att. 81,118); first 32-club edition, USA |
| 2023 | Manchester City | Final: 4–0 vs Fluminense — Saudi Arabia |
| 2022 | Real Madrid | Final: 5–3 vs Al-Hilal — Morocco (played February 2023) |
| 2021 | Chelsea | Final: 2–1 aet vs Palmeiras — UAE (played February 2022) |
| 2020 | Bayern Munich | Final: 1–0 vs Tigres UANL — Qatar (played February 2021) |
| 2019 | Liverpool | Final: 1–0 aet vs Flamengo — Qatar |
| 2018 | Real Madrid | Final: 4–1 vs Al Ain — UAE |
| 2017 | Real Madrid | Final: 1–0 vs Grêmio — UAE |
| 2016 | Real Madrid | Final: 4–2 aet vs Kashima Antlers — Japan |
| 2015 | Barcelona | Final: 3–0 vs River Plate — Japan |
Winners of the last ten editions — there was no 2024 tournament; the annual format ended after 2023.
Why does it matter?
The 2025 tournament distributed a USD 1bn prize pool — FIFA states that all of its revenue goes to the clubs and to solidarity payments — drew 2,491,462 spectators over 63 matches, and its final at MetLife Stadium was watched by 81,118. A confederation title now carries a place at the next Club World Cup, so the continental club competitions feed directly into it.[2] [4] [5] [6]
References
- FIFA — FIFA Council appoints United States as host of new and expanded FIFA Club World Cup. Accessed September 2026.
- FIFA — Council approves unprecedented prize money pot for Club World Cup. Accessed September 2026.
- FIFA — FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and 2029 media rights tender launched. Accessed September 2026.
- Wikipedia — 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final (background). Accessed September 2026.
- Wikipedia — FIFA Club World Cup (background). Accessed September 2026.
- Wikipedia — 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (background). Accessed September 2026.
- Wikipedia — 2029 FIFA Club World Cup (background). Accessed September 2026.