Some of the biggest teams in Europe are taking part in the Club World Cup this summer but there’s no Arsenal, Manchester United or Liverpool.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the two Premier League sides playing in the United States as they attempt to get their hands on more silverware.
They will be joined by the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Atletico Madrid.
Ahead of the opening match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami on Sunday morning, here’s why there will be no Arsenal, Man Utd or Liverpool at the 2025 Club World Cup…
Why are Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool not playing in the Club World Cup?
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Liverpool are the current Premier League champions but they won’t be playing at the Club World Cup, nor will the top-flight runners-up Arsenal.
Man Utd, who just endured a horrific 2024-25 campaign but remain one of the biggest clubs in England, won’t be taking part in the tournament either.
That’s because of FIFA’s qualification rules, with only 12 of the 32 spots at the Club World Cup handed to European teams. The European places were awarded based on Champions League performances between the 2020/21 and 2023/24 seasons.
Under FIFA’s rules, the Champions League winners from the last four seasons (2021-2024 for this Club World Cup) gain automatic qualification.
That’s why Chelsea and City are taking part, because they both landed the Champions League trophy in 2021 and 2023 respectively. Real Madrid won in 2022 and 2024, with the remaining nine spots allocated based on a UEFA ranking system.
Arsenal and Man Utd did not perform well enough in the time period to warrant a spot but Liverpool did. However, the rules also stipulate that each country can only have a maximum of two teams taking part, with Chelsea and City already representing England.
An exception would be made if more than two different teams from the same country won the Champions League in the allocated time period. The USA do have three teams at this Club World Cup but that is because they are the host nation.
Have any Premier League teams won the Club World Cup before?
Since the inaugural tournament in 2000, four Premier League sides have been crowned champions of the Club World Cup – but Arsenal have never even played in it before.
Before the Club World Cup was expanded for 2025, it only featured seven teams, with just one from Europe taking part as the winners of the most recent Champions League.
Man Utd were the first English team triumph at the Club World Cup by defeating Ecuadorian side LDU Quito in the 2008 final.
Liverpool won 11 years later by beating Flamengo in the final, while Chelsea beat another Brazilian team Palmeiras to lift the trophy in 2021.
As no Club World Cup was held last year, Man City are the reigning champions after thrashing Brazil’s Fluminense 4-0 in the 2023 final.
Arsenal have never won the Champions League in their history – which means they have not participated in the Club World Cup to date.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Teams and Groups
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
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