FIFA approves of expanded CWC in 2025 with Chelsea and Real Madrid qualifying

FIFA has approved Chelsea and Real Madrid qualifying for an enlarged CWC in 2025.

An enlarged Club World Cup will take place in 2025, and Chelsea and Real Madrid will get automatic qualifying slots as a result of FIFA's approval.

Seven teams currently compete for the championship in the event's current format, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced plans for an enlarged 32-team competition starting in June 2025 in December.

Chelsea and Real Madrid will be given automatic entry into the event as the past two Champions League champions, while the champions in 2023 and 2024 will get two more berths.

South American teams would not have concluded their qualifying events in time to qualify for the new Club World Cup that year since the Copa Libertadores is now scheduled to take place in November.

When the COVID-19 outbreak prevented a projected first edition in China in 2021, the international governing body of football had intended to establish a 24-team tournament; instead, an even larger competition will occur every four years.

Seven teams currently compete for the championship in the event's current format, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced plans for an enlarged 32-team competition starting in June 2025 in December.

Chelsea and Real Madrid will be given automatic entry into the event as the past two Champions League champions, while the champions in 2023 and 2024 will get two more berths.

South American teams would not have concluded their qualifying events in time to qualify for the new Club World Cup that year since the Copa Libertadores is now scheduled to take place in November.

When the COVID-19 outbreak prevented a projected first edition in China in 2021, the international governing body of football had intended to establish a 24-team tournament; instead, an even larger competition will occur every four years.

The international match schedule will change starting in 2025, with one prolonged break replacing two distinct windows in September and October and taking four matches in late September and early October.

The remaining windows—in November, March, and June—would continue to be the same, according to the regulatory board.

Infantino has worked to increase the number of teams participating in the Club World Cup since taking over from Sepp Blatter in 2016.

Real Madrid now holds the Club World Cup after beating Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia to capture the trophy for a record-breaking sixth time last month.