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Sports Desk • Soccer

FIFA Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup is an international men's association football tournament organized by FIFA to determine the world's top club team.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

The FIFA Club World Cup is an international men's club football tournament organized by FIFA to crown the world's top club team. First held in 2000, it was expanded in 2025 to a 32-team event played every four years.

What it is

The tournament brings together champion clubs and other qualified clubs from FIFA’s six continental confederations, plus a host-nation club. The current format uses eight groups of four, followed by a knockout stage starting at the round of 16.

How qualification works

Places are allocated across UEFA, CONMEBOL, AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, and OFC, with Europe receiving the most berths and Oceania the fewest. Qualification is based on continental competition performance and championship results over the relevant cycle.

Recent edition

The first tournament under the expanded format took place in the United States in 2025. Chelsea won that edition, defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

In short

  • Founded in 2000, expanded to 32 teams in 2025.
  • Held every four years with clubs qualifying through continental competitions.
  • Chelsea won the 2025 edition in the United States.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may recognize the tournament through Major League Soccer’s Canadian clubs and through the CONCACAF qualification pathway, which includes clubs from Canada, the United States, Central America and the Caribbean.[2][1]

Quick questions

What is the FIFA Club World Cup?
It is FIFA’s tournament for determining the world’s top men’s club football team.
How many teams are in the current format?
The current format has 32 teams.
Who won the 2025 tournament?
Chelsea won the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Sources

  1. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/FIFA-Club-World-Cup
    Supports: Founded in 2000; FIFA-organized international tournament; six confederations plus host nation; 2025 expansion to 32 teams and quadrennial format.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Club_World_Cup
    Supports: 32-team current format; eight groups of four; top two advance to round of 16; confederation allocation.
  3. BBC Sport — https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c9835np3205o
    Supports: 2025 format details; 32 teams; every four years; U.S. host; group stage and knockout structure.
  4. Sports Illustrated — https://www.si.com/soccer/what-is-the-fifa-club-world-cup-complete-guide
    Supports: Confederation allocation, qualification overview, and 2025 tournament format.
  5. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/41959489/fifa-club-world-cup-format-schedule-why-lionel-messi-playing
    Supports: Qualification methods and quadrennial intent.
  6. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_FIFA_Club_World_Cup
    Supports: Chelsea won the 2025 edition; final result.