Why aren't Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd playing at the FIFA Club World Cup2025

The world’s elite clubs soon find out who they will be facing in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup.

All 32 places for the tournament have been filled, with the draw taking place in Miami at 6pm UK time tonight (Thursday). The previous incarnation of the competition saw seven teams from the six FIFA confederations play seven matches across 11 days at one central host.

But the FIFA Council decided last year that 32 teams will now take to the United States to compete for the title of the world’s greatest club side across the last four seasons, cramming 63 fixtures into just 28 days.

However, no more than two clubs from the same country can take part in the tournament, which will begin on June 15 and end on July 13. There were 12 European clubs that qualified, including the winners of the UEFA Champions League from 2021 to 2024.

Chelsea and Manchester City won Europe’s top competition in 2021 and 2023, meaning they already secured the two English spots.

Once the two-per-country limit was reached, another club from a nation could no longer qualify through the ranking route – only by winning the 2023/24 Champions League. And because both Arsenal and Manchester United failed to do so last season, while Liverpool did not even take part, none of the three teams will be involved.

That also ruled the likes of RB Leipzig, Napoli, Barcelona, Sevilla and AC Milan out – as they had already missed out through the four-year ranking path. Chelsea, Real Madrid and City qualified through their Champions League wins.

Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Red Bull Salzburg and Atletico Madrid were the other nine European clubs to qualify, thanks to UEFA's four-year ranking system.

The rest of the teams competing from around the world are: Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Monterrey, Seattle Sounders FC, Leon, Pachuca, Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Ulsan HD, Al Ahly, Wydad AC, Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Auckland City.

The 32nd place was reserved for a representative of the host nation, meaning Lionel Messi will compete with Inter Miami, though in controversial fashion as Miami were not actually MLS champions.

The 2025 CWC will feature eight groups of four teams, with the sides playing each other once in the group phase. Two teams from each group progress to the last-16 in a straight knockout competition, where they compete for a prize of up to £50million.

But Arsenal, Liverpool and United fans, fear not – the next edition of the Club World Cup will take place in 2029.