FIFA has revised the status of several high-profile football clubs following a major decision regarding the Club World Cup — and eight more teams have now been impacted.
This update comes shortly after Chelsea’s emphatic 4-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Club World Cup final. Despite the tournament having run annually since 2005, FIFA has now officially designated Chelsea as the inaugural world champions under a newly recognized format.
According to the Daily Mail, previous winners of the Club World Cup, including Manchester United, Liverpool, and Manchester City, will now hold the title of FIFA Intercontinental Champions. This title is distinct from the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, a rebranded competition that now involves six continental champions competing in a mini-tournament.
Notably, Chelsea are not assured of automatic qualification for the next edition of the Club World Cup, set for 2029. Future participation will be determined by club rankings and continental achievements over the next few years. Clubs like Liverpool (2019 winners), City (2023), and United (2008) will need to requalify to reclaim the “world champion” status.
In addition to the three English sides, seven other clubs have also been affected. Real Madrid, who claimed the trophy five times under the old format — most recently in 2022 — must now win it again under the updated structure to regain their title. Barcelona (three-time winners), Bayern Munich and Corinthians (both two-time winners), as well as Sao Paulo (2005), Internacional (2006), AC Milan (2007), and Inter Milan (2010), are all impacted by this shift.
As of now, four clubs — PSG, Al Hilal, Pyramids, and Cruz Azul — have already secured places in the 2029 tournament. Other former champions still have the chance to qualify based on future performances in continental competitions or through FIFA’s club ranking system.
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