The Club World Cup is underway in America but there is still some confusion among fans as to why some teams are there and others are not.
The tournament has been completely revamped this year to effectively become an entirely new event, now featuring 32 teams from around the globe.
12 teams from Europe are involved, four from Asia, four from Africa, four from North and Central America, six from South America and one from Oceania.
Despite UEFA getting easily the most slots in the tournament there are some surprisingly big clubs that will not be playing in the States.
Barcelona are not involved, neither are Italian champions Napoli, nor are Premier League champs Liverpool.
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Meanwhile Chelsea, who were not even in the Champions League last season, are playing in the Club World Cup, getting their campaign underway against Los Angeles FC on Monday.
The likes of Porto and RB Salzburg are also involved, so how were the clubs playing at this year’s Club World Cup decided?
How did European teams qualify for the Club World Cup?
The places at the Club World Cup were handed out based on clubs’ performances over the last four years in the Champions League.
That goes back to 2021 when Chelsea won the Champions League and includes the next two winners, Manchester City and Real Madrid.
The most recent edition was not included, but Paris Saint-Germain qualified anyway as the other European teams involved were decided by a UEFA ranking system based on Champions League performance.
However, a maximum of two teams from a European nation were able to compete, so Liverpool could not join Chelsea and Manchester City at the Club World Cup.
Barcelona were behind Atletico Madrid on the UEFA ranking pathway, so missed out as well.
An exception would be made if more than two different teams from the same country won the Champions League in the allocated time period.
2025 Club World Cup teams, groups and how they qualified
FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Group A
Palmeiras – Winners of the 2021 Copa Libertadores
Porto – Fifth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Al Ahly – Winners of the 2020/21 CAF Champions League
Inter Miami – Winners of the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield
Group B
PSG – Second-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Atletico Madrid – Sixth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Botafogo – Winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores
Seattle Sounders – Winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League
Group C
Bayern Munich – Best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Auckland City – Best OFC Champions League winners in the OFC four-year ranking
Boca Juniors – Second-best ranked eligible team in the CONMEBOL four-year ranking
Benfica – Seventh-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Group D
Flamengo – Winners of the 2022 Copa Libertadores
Esperance de Tunis – Best-ranked eligible team in the CAF four-year ranking
Chelsea – Winners of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
Los Angeles FC – Winners of the play-in match
Group E
River Plate – Best-ranked eligible team in the CONMEBOL four-year ranking
Urawa Red Diamonds – Winners of the 2022 AFC Champions League
Monterray – Winners of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League
Inter Milan – Fourth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Group F
Fluminense – Winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores
Borussia Dortmund – Third-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Ulsan HD – Best-ranked eligible team in the AFC four-year ranking
Mamelodi Sundowns – Second-best ranked eligible team in the CAF four-year ranking
Group G
Man City – Winners of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Wydad AC – Winners of the 2021/22 CAF Champions League
Al Ain – Winners of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League
Juventus – Eighth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Group H
Real Madrid – Winners of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League
Al Hilal – Winners of the 2021 AFC Champions League
Pachuca – Winners of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League
Red Bull Salzburg – Ninth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
How to watch the Club World Cup in the UK
Channel 5 will be showing 23 matches from the tournament, all of which will be free-to-air, while DAZN are live streaming all 63 games.