The much-anticipated FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ is set to kick off in the United States, bringing together 32 teams in a historic, expanded format. But while the tournament promises global spectacle, some major clubs won’t be part of the show, raising questions about the competition’s structure and inclusivity.

Why FC Barcelona Misses Out

Despite a strong domestic season—LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup titles—Barcelona failed to qualify. The reason? The UEFA ranking system and the limit of two clubs per country.

• Real Madrid qualified automatically as a Champions League winner.
• Atlético de Madrid edged out Barça in the coefficient rankings, based on performances from 2021–2023.
• Barça’s return to the Champions League semifinals in 2024–25 came too late to influence qualification.

Even stars like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Raphinha couldn’t tilt the scale in time.

Liverpool Left Behind Despite Domestic Success

Another high-profile omission is Liverpool.

• Although the Reds had a stellar Premier League campaign, they were blocked by the same two-club limit.
• Chelsea (2021) and Manchester City (2023) earned their spots by lifting the Champions League.
• Liverpool’s penalty shootout loss to PSG in the 2025 UCL Round of 16 dashed any hopes of sneaking in via ranking points.

Napoli’s Scudetto Isn’t Enough

Napoli, who dominated Serie A recently, is not among the Italian representatives.

• Despite back-to-back domestic titles, their European record wasn't strong enough.
• Juventus outpaced them in UEFA’s coefficient, and Inter Milan secured the other spot with their 2023 UCL final appearance.

The message? Domestic dominance doesn’t guarantee global exposure.

Arsenal Also Left Watching

Arsenal fans had high hopes after reaching the UCL semifinals and eliminating Real Madrid, but the lack of silverware cost them.

• Two straight seasons without trophies.
• Their strong run under Mikel Arteta wasn’t enough to tip the UEFA ranking scale.
• England’s two available slots were already locked.

Why Cruz Azul Isn’t Invited

Cruz Azul won the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup in dominant fashion, but they won’t be in the 2025 Club World Cup.

• Their title qualifies them for the 2029 edition, under the new cycle-based system.
• The Mexican clubs heading to the 2025 tournament earned their place through previous cycles or 2021–2023 performances.

Even champions can fall victim to timing.

A Club World Cup Without Some of the Best?

The tournament’s eligibility rules—especially the two-team limit per country and the emphasis on ranking points from the past four years—mean that some of the world’s most competitive and iconic clubs won’t be present.