The ‘new and improved’ 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is well underway, with 32 teams contesting the inaugural event in the United States. But while Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are among the participants, as you might expect, LaLiga giants Barcelona are nowhere to be seen.

The Catalans have endured some turbulent times both on and off the field of late, despite winning LaLiga in 2022/23 and 2024/25. In the first of those two seasons, as well as in 2021/22, Barça were eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage, which is what ultimately cost them a place in the FIFA Club World Cup.

How did teams qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup?

Qualification for the tournament varied by confederation (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, OFC), although clubs either qualified by winning their confederation’s top club competition or due to their ranking within their confederation over the previous four-year period.

Europe provides 12 of the 32 participants, four of which are the winners of the four Champions Leagues between 2020/21 and 2023/24, while the other eight, in theory, come from the UEFA club rankings. However, because Real Madrid won the Champions League twice in that time, a ninth European club qualified based on its ranking.

Also important to note is that no more than two clubs from the same country are permitted, unless more than two clubs from that country won the Champions League in the four seasons mentioned above (which didn’t happen).

Barcelona’s Club World Cup absence explained

Madrid’s Champions League victories meant only one other Spanish team could qualify from the club rankings, which was Atlético Madrid. Diego Simeone’s team outperformed Barcelona in European competition in the four seasons taken into consideration, which means they are involved in the tournament and Barça aren’t.

That Barcelona’s club ranking is higher than qualified clubs from other countries (Benfica, Juventus, RB Salzburg) is irrelevant due to the two-clubs-per-country rule, and the fact they didn’t win the Champions League between 2020/21 and 2023/24. .

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