In a stunning twist, FIFA has officially reclassified past Club World Cup triumphs, effectively stripping Manchester United, Liverpool, and Manchester City of their “world champion” status.
The decision follows Chelsea’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the revamped Club World Cup final, held in New Jersey. Goals from Cole Palmer (2) and Joao Pedro secured Chelsea’s first-ever title in the competition, crowning them global champions under FIFA’s newly introduced format.
Unlike previous editions, this year’s tournament featured a 32-team structure combining group and knockout stages, showcasing clubs from all six continental confederations.
However, FIFA’s post-tournament declaration has stirred major debate. The governing body has now recognized Chelsea as the first official Club World Cup winners under this format — sidelining all prior champions, including United (2008), Liverpool (2019), and City (2023), who had each lifted the previous version of the trophy.
As per Daily Mail reports, these former titleholders — and others from past tournaments — will now carry the label of FIFA Intercontinental Champions rather than world champions.
This decision draws a sharp line between the new tournament structure and the historical format. It also creates confusion with another competition — the similarly named Intercontinental Cup — which existed from 1970 to 2004 and was contested between the champions of Europe and South America.
The rebranding also comes alongside a new trophy design, separate from the one used in the now-outdated Club World Cup format. This symbolic change cements Chelsea’s place as the sole current world champions recognized by FIFA.
Looking ahead, the Club World Cup will return in 2029, with teams like PSG, Pyramids FC, Al Hilal, and Cruz Azul already securing qualification after winning their respective continental trophies.
The move has sparked debate among fans and pundits, with many questioning the fairness of rewriting football history and devaluing the achievements of past champions.
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