FC Barcelona will not participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the first edition under the expanded 32-team format, which will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. This absence is due to the club failing to meet the qualification criteria established by FIFA for this revamped tournament.

FIFA’s Qualification Criteria

For UEFA, FIFA determined that the 12 European teams eligible for the 2025 Club World Cup would be chosen based on their performance in the UEFA Champions League during the 2021-2024 cycle. The specific criteria include:

1. Winners of the UEFA Champions League from 2021 to 2024.
2. Club rankings based on performance in European competitions during the same period.
3. A limit of two clubs per country, unless more than two teams from a single association won the Champions League in that cycle.

Barcelona’s Struggles in European Competitions

Barcelona’s absence is largely due to their poor European performances during the qualification period. The team failed to progress beyond the group stage of the Champions League in both the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, a rare and historic disappointment for a club accustomed to competing in the latter stages of the tournament.

Notable low points include heavy defeats such as the 2-5 and 4-6 losses to PSG in 2021 and 2024, which highlighted significant defensive and tactical deficiencies. These struggles not only tarnished the club’s reputation but also severely impacted their UEFA club ranking, a critical factor for qualifying for the Club World Cup.

Spanish Representatives in the Tournament

The two Spanish clubs set to represent LaLiga in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup are:

• Real Madrid, who qualified by winning the 2022 UEFA Champions League.
• Atlético Madrid, who secured their spot through their high position in the UEFA club rankings.