The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is set to feature a new format, showcasing the best clubs globally. The tournament includes the champions from each continent and teams selected based on their performance metrics. The absence of FC Barcelona from the competition has raised questions, despite their successful domestic season.
Barcelona’s omission from the Club World Cup stems from FIFA’s rules limiting the number of participating clubs from each country to two. Despite winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey, Barcelona was unable to secure a spot due to Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid already qualifying based on their UEFA coefficient rankings. Initially, Barcelona hoped to replace Club Leon, which was disqualified for breaching multi-club ownership rules. However, FIFA chose to maintain regional balance and gave the opportunity to Los Angeles FC.
This exclusion has several repercussions for Barcelona. The Club World Cup presents a significant platform for increased revenue through sponsorships, merchandise sales, and media exposure. Moreover, the club loses out on substantial prize money and revenue from television rights and bonuses, impacting their financial situation. The missed opportunity also denies Hansi Flick’s team the chance to compete against the best clubs from different continents, hindering player development and performance analysis.