FIFA Club World Cup

Lore & Background

The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in 2000, running in parallel with the Intercontinental Cup. In 2017, FIFA retroactively recognised the champions of both tournaments as club world champions. In 2005, the Intercontinental Cup was merged with the FIFA Club World Championship, and in 2006, the tournament was renamed the FIFA Club World Cup. Real Madrid hold the record for most titles, having won the competition five times. Corinthians' inaugural victory remains the best result from a host nation's national league champions. Teams from Spain have won the tournament eight times, the most for any nation. England has the largest number of winning teams, with four clubs having won the tournament.

In Their Own Story

The humid air of Yokohama hung heavy over the pitch as the referee blew the final whistle. The score remained deadlocked at 1-0 after Anderson's late strike, with LDU Quito fans in the corner singing with a fervor that shook the stadium. Inside the United dressing room, the mood was tense; they had dominated possession but could not find the killer blow until the very end. As the players walked out for the trophy presentation, the roar of the crowd faded into a singular focus on the white spot in the center circle. Carlos Tevez wiped sweat from his brow, looking toward the stands where the red sea of supporters waited. He placed the ball down with deliberate calmness during the celebrations, ignoring the exhaustion etched on his face. The run-up was short, the strike true. The net rippled. The eruption that followed was deafening. As the trophy was hoisted into the night sky, glittering under the floodlights, United had finally conquered the world.

Reader's Guide

The current format, which came into effect with the 2025 edition, features 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation: 12 teams from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 from Africa, 4 from Asia, 4 from North, Central America and Caribbean, 1 from Oceania, and 1 team from the host nation. All non-host teams qualify through results in their confederation's top club competition. The teams are drawn into eight groups of four, with each team playing three group stage matches in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, starting with the round of 16 and culminating with the final.

Did You Know?

• The competition was first contested in 2000 as the FIFA Club World Championship.
• Real Madrid hold the record for most titles, having won the competition five times.
• England has the largest number of winning teams, with four clubs having won the tournament.
• The current world champions are Manchester City, winners of the 2023 edition.