Why are Barcelona not part of 2025 FIFA Club World Cup? Reason explained
Barcelona failed to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup after failing to win the Champions League in the last four years. The Catalan side could have made it via the coefficient rankings but were behind Atletico Madrid, who took the second spot from Spain.
FIFA have limited the slots to two sides per nation and that has seen both Madrid sides qualify from Spain. Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League in 2022 and 2024 to qualify for the tournament, while their derby rivals, Atletico Madrid, collected more coefficient points than Barcelona since the 2020/21 season to get the second spot.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is excited about the tournament this summer and claimed that it was the 'big bang' moment in football. He is looking forward to the new format and said (via fifa.com):
"We're writing history here in North America. We're writing history here in Miami starting on 14 June. For the first time in history, the 32 best clubs in the world will compete in a tournament to determine finally who is the best club in the world."
"They will play for this incredible trophy which is, as you can see, very special, very new, unlike any other trophy in the world of sport. It represents the past, the present, the future. It represents a big bang, because this is exactly what it is, and we thought that we would have to have an iconic trophy for an iconic competition."
While Barcelona are not at the tournament, their club legend Lionel Messi will be playing. Inter Miami were awarded a spot as the host nation soon after they won the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2024, while LAFC got a place in the tournament via PlayOff after Club Leon were thrown out because of multi-owner rules.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino wanted Barcelona star Lamine Yamal at Club World Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was on iShowSpeed's stream in May and admitted that he was in awe of Lamine Yamal. He added that it would have been great to see the youngster at the Club World Cup and said via Yahoo Sports:
"He is fantastic. He's still a kid and he's playing at an incredible level. He has the quality of true champions, because he makes difficult things look easy. When you see him play you think, it's easy, but if you try to do what he does… He should play in the Club World Cup."
FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on June 14, with Al Ahly taking on host Inter Miami. Barcelona's rivals, Atletico Madrid, take on Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in their match on June 15.
