What Barcelona Will Miss by Not Playing in the Club World Cup
Barcelona, one of the most iconic clubs in football, will not take part in the 2025 Club World Cup. Here’s a breakdown of what the Catalan side will miss on and off the pitch.
A Missed Global Showcase
The 2025 Club World Cup will feature 32 teams from across the globe and will be broadcast in over 200 countries. For a global brand like Barcelona, missing out on this stage is a major setback. With sponsorships, shirt sales, digital content, and media exposure at stake, the tournament offered a perfect platform to rebuild its global presence.
While clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Palmeiras take center stage in the U.S., Barça will be absent from football’s biggest club showcase—at a time when the club seeks to recover financially and competitively.
Financial Gains Out of Reach
Beyond marketing and exposure, there’s a direct economic impact. Participating teams will receive prize money starting from the group stage, and the champion could earn up to $125 million. Add to that revenues from TV rights, sponsorship deals, and match performance bonuses.
For a club in financial difficulty like Barcelona, this kind of revenue could have helped ease its situation. But having failed to qualify, all of it will go to others.
Missed Sporting Challenge
On the sporting side, Barcelona loses the chance to face top clubs from other confederations like Al Ahly, Monterrey, Fluminense, or Auckland City. In an increasingly globalized sport, these matchups offer valuable competitive growth.
Additionally, coach Hansi Flick will miss the chance to test his squad and new signings against elite international opposition—something that could have helped assess their level outside of Europe.
A Format Still Under Scrutiny
Barcelona’s exclusion stems from FIFA’s qualification rules, which limit each country to just two clubs based on UEFA rankings. This has sparked criticism across European football, with many calling for reforms. There’s already talk of expanding the tournament to 48 teams in the future.
Missing the 2025 Club World Cup is no small matter for Barcelona—it's a lost opportunity for visibility, revenue, and sporting progress. While others shine on the U.S. stage, the Catalan giants will have to watch from afar and focus on rebuilding their place among the elite.
