FIFA, which oversees world football, has formally reclassified the Club World Cup, depriving previous winners of the title.
Prominent European teams such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester City are no longer the winners of the Club World Cup as a result.
Only Chelsea, who won the 2025 edition, may rightfully claim the title of FIFA Club World Cup victors and, consequently, world champions, according to the global football governing body.
No matter their background or level of domination in the league, all other past victors will now be referred to as FIFA Intercontinental Champions.
Manchester United, the 2008 champions, Barcelona, the three-time winners, and Real Madrid, the tournament’s five-time winner, are all impacted by the decision.
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The new format of the competition, which debuted in 2025, is the reason for the change in recognition. 32 teams from six football confederations faced off in a single-event competition for the first time, modeled after the format of the FIFA World Cup for men.
The trophy was won by Chelsea, who under new manager Enzo Maresca took full advantage of the redesigned platform, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in a decisive final. FIFA now views this new competition as the formal beginning of the Club World Cup era.
With four clubs—PSG (France), Pyramids (Egypt), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), and Cruz Azul (Mexico)—securing their spots by winning their respective continental titles, the Club World Cup will return in 2029.
