Manchester United and Man City’s World Cup qualification explained as Real Madrid return

The FIFA Club World Cup is set for a significant expansion next year, with 32 teams taking part in a grand new competition. The inaugural edition of FIFA’s premier club tournament will be hosted in the US.

The tournament will bring together clubs from each of the six international confederations – AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA. Previously, it involved only seven teams – one from each confederation, plus an additional team from the home confederation.

However, FIFA has announced a major expansion of the tournament for next year, with 32 teams competing in a pre-season tournament scheduled for June and July, including Manchester City.

But what are the qualification criteria and could Manchester United join them? MEN Sports look at what it all means…

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How many UEFA teams are participating?

UEFA will send 12 representatives to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. These 12 will include the winners of the last four Champions League finals – Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea – as well as the highest-ranked teams from the last four years.

As Real Madrid have won the title twice in the last four seasons, another club will qualify through the ranking system.

How does the ranking system work?

This is also based on the last four Champions League seasons. Teams accumulate points based on their performances in each of the last four editions of the competition.

Points are allocated as follows:

• 4 points for qualification in the group stage.

• 2 points for a win.

• 1 point tied.

• 5 points for advancing to the round of 16.

• 1 point for progressing to each subsequent stage of the competition.

Who else has already qualified?

Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Juventus and RB Salzburg have all secured their places in the 2025 tournament based on their Champions League performances over the past four seasons.

Can other teams qualify?

Interestingly, Real Madrid caused a stir when their participation in next year’s competition was called into question. Manager Carlo Ancelotti has suggested the Champions League winners will decline the invitation, citing more lucrative opportunities to play elsewhere, sparking excitement that a Premier League side such as Manchester United or Arsenal could take their place.

However, it was soon confirmed that Real Madrid would indeed compete. And even if they didn’t, UEFA only allows two clubs from each country to participate. With Man City and Chelsea having won a Champions League title in the last four years, the English slots are already filled.

Barcelona, ​​in 12th place, would likely have replaced Real Madrid in the tournament, as it would have been a Spanish team replacing another Spanish team.