The Controversial Club World Cup Qualification System Explained

The Club World Cup is born not without controversy. Beyond the debatable choice of the United States, a country with little football tradition, as the host of the first edition, or its fit into a demanding calendar, there is ongoing controversy over the allocation system of spots implemented by FIFA, based on the performance of participants in major continental competitions between 2021 and 2024. A criterion that has left out, no less, the reigning champions of three of the five major domestic competitions in the world: Barça, winner of the Spanish League; Napoli, victor of Serie A; and Liverpool, new holder of the Premier League.

Europe is the continent with the most representatives in the tournament. UEFA has twelve spots, three of which went to the teams that won the Champions League between 2021 and 2024 (Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City), while the remaining nine were awarded based on their position in the confederation ranking (Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, and Salzburg).

CONMEBOL secured six tickets for the tournament. Four of them were given to the Copa Libertadores champions between 2021 and 2024 (Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo), while the other two were awarded based on the confederation's ranking (River Plate and Boca Juniors).

CONCACAF presents three of the four champions it had in the CONCACAF Champions League between 2021 and 2024: Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, and Pachuca. The other king of that tournament during the mentioned period, the Mexican León, was expelled from the Club World Cup for sharing ownership with Pachuca, an element that violates the competition's regulations. Its spot was contested by Club América and Los Angeles FC in a thrilling match held on May 31, which concluded with a comeback by the Californian team in extra time.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) brings four contenders to the Club World Cup. These are the winners of the AFC Champions League between 2021 and 2024 (Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, and Al Ain), in addition to the Korean Ulsan HD.

African football presents four teams. Two of the spots were shared by the two winners of the CAF Champions League between 2021 and 2024 (Egyptian Al Ahly and Moroccan Wydad AC), while the remaining two were awarded to Esperance of Tunisia and Mamelodi Sundowns based on the African Football Confederation (CAF) ranking.

New Zealand's Auckland City secured the only spot available to the Oceania Football Confederation thanks to its leadership in the OFC ranking, having consecutively won the Champions League over the past four seasons.

The roster of participants is completed by Inter Miami, monarch of the Supporters' Shield, representing the host country and a burgeoning Major League Soccer (MLS).