BERLIN: Football governing body FIFA has confirmed eight European clubs that have already secured a spot for the 2025 Club World Cup, which will feature a new format, reported German news agency (dpa).
Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City qualified as the latest Champions League winners, a fourth to be confirmed at the end of this season, FIFA said on Sunday.
The other five clubs – Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Benfica and Porto – secured a spot thanks to their coefficient raking of European ruling body UEFA.
Three more European teams will qualify to the tournament through the ranking.
Only two teams will be permitted per country, unless that country has more than two Champions League winners.
The 2025 Club World Cup will be the first under an expanded format with 32 teams, set to take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025 in the United States.
The 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four teams with the top two teams in each group qualifying to the knock-out stage.
Other teams already qualified include Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca from Africa, Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds from Asia, Monterrey, Seattle Sounders and Club Leon from North and Central America/Caribbean, Auckland City from Oceania, and Palmeiras, Flamengo and Fluminense representing South America. –Bernama
