Why isn’t Barcelona playing at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
As the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup prepares to kick off on June 14 in the United States, excitement is surging across the soccer world. This edition marks a seismic shift in the tournament’s history: no longer an exclusive contest of seven teams, the competition has expanded to 32 of the world’s best clubs, with matches to be played across a full month and a final set for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
With soccer giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Chelsea all confirmed participants—and with global stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Sergio Ramos set to grace American soil—the stage is set for a true celebration of the club game.
Yet, one major name is conspicuously missing. Among the constellation of elite teams, Barcelona, one of the most decorated and iconic clubs in soccer history, is nowhere to be found.
So why isn’t the champion of Spain competing on this global stage?
Harsh qualification reality
Barcelona’s absence is not due to a current lack of talent or ambition. Rather, it’s the direct result of FIFA’s qualification framework, which is based on club performance in continental competitions over the past four years (2021-2024). While the revamped Club World Cup brings unprecedented scale and exposure, its rigid structure has also excluded some of Europe’s biggest names—Barcelona chief among them.
The rules are clear: UEFA is allocated 12 spots, filled by Champions League winners from 2021-2024, and the remaining spots are awarded via a four-year club coefficient ranking. However, no country is allowed more than two clubs, unless three or more win their continental titles.
That’s where Barcelona fell short. The Catalans’ rating took a hit due to the club’s early departure from the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Champions League seasons. In the end, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were the two Spanish teams who qualified for the knockout round based on their point totals.
Los Blancos secured their ticket by winning the Champions League twice in this cycle—in 2022 and again in 2024. Meanwhile, the Rojiblancos, consistent and resilient, edged out Barca in the coefficient rankings, earning Spain’s second and final spot.
Financial blow for a club in recovery
The implications of missing the tournament go far beyond sporting pride. The Club World Cup offers enormous financial incentives, from prize money totaling up to $125 million to lucrative TV and sponsorship deals. For a club like Barcelona, still navigating post-pandemic financial turbulence, this is a painful missed opportunity. This absence further complicates the club’s efforts to stabilize its accounts and rebuild a dominant squad capable of competing on all fronts.
Adding to the sting is the absence of Lamine Yamal, the teenage sensation who won Euro 2024 and claimed both the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy. At just 17 years old, he has already dazzled in La Liga, but this tournament would have offered him a priceless chance to shine internationally.