Real Madrid, Barca, Man Utd No Longer Official Club World Cup Champions – New Rules

FIFA, the organization that oversees football worldwide, has formally categorized the Club World Cup, depriving previous winners of the title.
As a result, they are no longer the winners of the Club World Cup, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
Only Chelsea, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup winners, can rightfully be referred to as FIFA Club World Cup winners and, thus, world champions, according to the global football governing body.

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The FIFA Intercontinental Champions title will now be worn by all other past winners, irrespective of their background or level of domination in the competition.

Legendary teams like Real Madrid, who have won the competition five times, Manchester United, who were winners in 2008, and Barcelona, who have won it three times, are all impacted by the decision.

The tournament’s newly enlarged structure, which debuted in 2025, is the reason for the change in recognition. In a format akin to the men’s FIFA World Cup, 32 clubs from six football confederations faced off in a single event for the first time.

Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea took full advantage of the redesigned platform, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in a decisive final to win the cup. FIFA now views this updated version of the competition as the formal beginning of the Club World Cup era.

Four clubs—PSG (France), Pyramids (Egypt), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), and Cruz Azul (Mexico)—have already secured their spots by winning their respective continental titles, and the next Club World Cup will take place in 2029.