How to Qualify for the Club World Cup?
Craig Jones 
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marks a moment in global football, introducing a revamped format that expands the tournament to 32 teams.
It gives us a chance for more football betting during usually quiet periods, and competitive games, not just friendlies, so there's plenty to be excited about for that.
However, I'm sure some will not like the format, extra games, and time period used, but the feeling is that it's here to stay.
Scheduled to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, this year brings together elite clubs from all six FIFA confederations, offering a more inclusive and competitive landscape than ever before.
Club World Cup Qualification Structure
FIFA's new qualification criteria span a four year cycle (2021–2024 for this year's competition), emphasizing both continental success and consistent performance.
Variety is the appeal here, something that will make it quite difficult, in my opinion anyway, for football betting sites to price up some of the games.
The allocation of slots among confederations is as follows:
- UEFA (Europe): 12 teams
- CONMEBOL (South America): 6 teams
- AFC (Asia): 4 teams
- CAF (Africa): 4 teams
- CONCACAF (North & Central America, Caribbean): 4 teams
- OFC (Oceania): 1 team
- Host Nation (USA): 1 team
For UEFA and CONMEBOL, qualification includes winners of their premier club competitions, which are the UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores, running from 2021 to 2024.
Additional spots are filled based on a four year ranking system that evaluates club performances during this period.
Other confederations rely on their respective Champions League winners, with remaining slots awarded to top ranked clubs over the same 2021-2024 timeframe.
We are hoping that the diverse nature of teams competing here is replicated with a diverse range of football betting offers across the tournament.
Country Limit on Number of Clubs
A key aspect of the qualification rules is the cap on the number of clubs from a single country.
FIFA has imposed a limit of two clubs per country, unless additional clubs from that nation have won their continental championship during the 2021–2024 cycle.
For example, if four Premier League teams win the Champions League during the cycle, all four can play. But if two win, then regardless of rankings, no one else can join them.
This rule has significant implications, particularly for countries with a high number of successful clubs, such as England.
This rule ensures greater geographical diversity and prevents domination by a few footballing nations, encouraging a more balanced global representation, though of course, some fans will not like this if it prevents their team from taking part.
Club World Cup 2025 Qualified Teams
The tournament features a diverse range of clubs, each earning their place through success in continental competitions or sustained performance.
Working out our football betting tips for the tournament is only going to be made harder by the nature of those involved.
The teams qualified for 2025 are as follow:
- UEFA: Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, Benfica, Porto, Dortmund, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg
- CONMEBOL: Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, River Plate, Boca Juniors
- AFC: Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Ulsan HD
- CAF: Al Ahly, Wydad AC, Espérance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns
- CONCACAF: Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Pachuca, LAFC
- OFC: Auckland City
- Host: Inter Miami
Tournament Format
The competition adopts a World Cup style format, so at least its familiar. This means eight groups of four, followed by a knockout stage starting from the Round of 16.
Each team plays three group stage matches, with the top two from each group advancing, and the bottom two going home.
Throughout the competition we will have betting tips and predictions across all of the big games taking place.
Global Representation
This expanded format ensures broader global representation, allowing clubs from traditionally underrepresented regions to compete on the world stage.
The country cap plays a key role in ensuring this balance, and 2025 is sure to give us a taste of what is to come in the future.
