FIFA Finalizes Club World Cup Finalists
32 club teams from AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA will feature in the inaugural competition to be held in the US next summer - now with added Messi.
The final dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup will be here before you know it and here’s nearly everything you need to know before the competition kicks off next June.
It’ll consist of 32 teams divided into eight groups of four with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.
Host Stadiums
63 matches will be played across 12 different stadiums in the United States with final played at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA
TQL Stadium – Cincinnati, OH
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
Rose Bowl Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, FL
GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN
MetLife Stadium – New York New Jersey
Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL
Inter&Co Stadium – Orlando, FL
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
Audi Field – Washington, D.C.
Which teams will be taking part?
31 of the 32 spots have been filled so far with the 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores winners to take the final place. This is how they break down:
Africa - 4 CAF teams. Three via champions pathway (CAF Champions League) and one via ranking pathway.
Asia - 4 AFC teams. Three via champions pathway (AFC Champions League) and one via ranking pathway.
Europe - 12 UEFA teams. Four via champions pathway (UEFA Champions League) and eight via ranking pathway.
North and Central America, Caribbean - 4 Concacaf teams. All via champions pathway (Concacaf Champions Cup).
Oceania - 1 OFC team. Via ranking pathway.
South America - 6 CONMEBOL teams. Four via champions pathway (CONMEBOL Libertadores) and two via ranking pathway.
Host country - 1 team.
Find out how the ranking pathways are determined.
Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
ES Tunis (TUN) - CAF ranking pathway
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) - CAF ranking pathway
Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League
Al Ain (UAE) - 2023/24 AFC Champions League
Ulsan HD FC (KOR) - AFC ranking pathway
Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Porto (POR) - UEFA ranking pathway
Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
Juventus (ITA) - UEFA ranking pathway
Atletico Madrid (ESP) - UEFA ranking pathway
FC Salzburg (AUT) - UEFA ranking pathway
Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
Club Leon (MEX) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup
Pachuca (MEX) - 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway
Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
River Plate (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Boca Juniors (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Inter Miami (USA) - Host nation slot
How the hell did Inter Miami qualify?
Come on now, do you really need to ask?
Goalkeeper of the Day
If your blood pressure doesn’t handle the sweeper keeper too well, imagine signing this little munchkin from Eintracht Frankfurt’s U-9’s:
Hydration of the Day
Gattuso tries coconut water for the first time…
Ground of the Day
ONEOK Field, home of FC Tulsa, Oklahoma
“Top bins” of the Day
Parrot of the Day
Former LaLiga referee Pajares Paz, whose parrot sings the Real Madrid anthem, claims another ex-referee, Urizar Azpitarte, has a parrot that says 'Cabron' (Bastards) when it hears the word 'Barcelona'.
Allegedly, Michael Oliver has one that sings ‘Blue Moon’.
Stat(s) of the Day
Maradonna would’ve been on 153 if Terry Fenwick had got anywhere near him during that 1986 World Cup Quarter Final…
As far as bizarre, meaningless stats go…
Takeover of the Day
A$AP Rocky is set to buy Tranmere Rovers - with or without Rhianna. (Yahoo!)
Fan of the Day
“Let’s have a Chinese.” If we ever do merch this is going on a t-shirt.
There’s nothing better than a bloke from Yorkshire ordering a Taboo and lemonade unless he’s getting Egg foo yung after.:
Quote of the Day
“One day, Pep criticised my pass in training. I said: 'Mister! I just did one wrong pass, you know?' And his reaction was incredible. 'Oh, okay, sorry, sorry, Mr Zinchenko. Sorry. Okay, guys, thank you, everyone inside.' Training over, all because I talked back. I knew I was in trouble.“ - Zinchenko
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