The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will proceed with a new format, presenting an opportunity for fans to see the best clubs from around the world. Participating teams include the current champions of each continent and clubs selected based on statistical performance. The recent decision by FIFA to exclude FC Barcelona from the tournament has sparked controversy.
Despite winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, Barcelona will not participate in the upcoming Club World Cup. FIFA’s regulations limit the number of clubs from each nation to two. Since Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid had already qualified based on their UEFA coefficient rankings, Barcelona was left out. Barcelona had hoped to take the spot left vacant by the disqualification of Club Leon, which had issues with multi-club ownership. FIFA, however, chose to prioritize regional balance and awarded the spot to Los Angeles FC.
The absence from the tournament means Barcelona will miss out on several benefits. The Club World Cup would have provided increased visibility, leading to more lucrative sponsorship deals, higher merchandise sales, and broader global media exposure. Moreover, the club will lose out on potential prize money and revenue generated from television rights and match-day bonuses. Barcelona’s exclusion also denies the team a chance to compete against top-tier clubs from other continents, which would have offered a chance to gauge their performance and hone their strategy.