FIFA Club World Cup Players: Squads, Top Scorers Explained
If you’ve been scanning the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup squads and wondered why Liverpool and Barcelona are missing while Chelsea and Manchester City are in, you’re not alone. The answer lies in a completely new qualification system; this article breaks down who’s in, who’s out, and exactly how player rosters work in the expanded tournament.
Teams in 2025 FIFA Club World Cup: 32 · Players per match squad: 26 · Maximum registered players per club: 35 · Defending champions: Manchester City · All-time top scorer in Club World Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo (7 goals)
Quick snapshot
- Manchester City (2023 UCL winner) and Chelsea (2021 UCL winner) qualified via UEFA Champions League wins within the 2021–2024 window (Wikipedia – qualification page).
- Liverpool’s 2019 UCL win falls outside that window (FIFA – tournament overview).
- Squads limited: 35 registered, 26 per match (FIFA – squad list article).
- Brazilian players most numerous with 142 in tournament (FIFA – squads in stats).
- Exact final squad lists for some teams are still being confirmed.
- The top scorer race for the 2025 edition is ongoing – no leader has emerged yet.
- The exact numbers of Spanish and Portuguese players (54 and 49 respectively) come from FIFA’s stats but may need updating as rosters settle.
- The all-time top scorer record (Cristiano Ronaldo, 7 goals) is based on previous tournaments; whether the expanded format will officially recognize new records is pending.
- Qualification window for UEFA clubs: 2021–2024 (Wikipedia – qualification).
- Final squad lists were published on June 11, 2025 (FIFA – squad list article).
- Tournament runs June 15 – July 13, 2025 in the United States (FIFA – dates and venues).
- Mid-tournament transfer window opens June 27 – July 3, 2025 (Wikipedia – squad rules).
Eight key numbers define the 2025 Club World Cup player landscape, from squad limits to nationality counts.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Tournament dates | June 15 – July 13, 2025 |
| Host nation | United States |
| Total teams | 32 |
| European slots | 12 (4 UCL winners + 8 via ranking) |
| Defending champion | Manchester City (2023 winner) |
| Max players per club (registered) | 35 |
| Players per match | 26 |
| Brazilian players in tournament | 142 |
| Argentine players in tournament | 104 |
| Squad list published | June 11, 2025 |
Why is Liverpool not in the Club World Cup?
How Club World Cup qualification works for European teams
The new 32-team format, approved by the FIFA Council on February 14, 2023, uses a four-year qualification cycle (2021–2024) for UEFA clubs (Wikipedia – qualification page – FIFA council decision). The 12 European slots are allocated first to the four UEFA Champions League winners from those four seasons, then to eight teams with the highest UEFA coefficient ranking over the same period (FIFA – tournament format overview).
Why Liverpool missed out despite winning Champions League
Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League in 2019, but that win falls outside the 2021–2024 window. They did not win the competition in any of the qualifying years, and they did not accumulate enough UEFA coefficient points to earn one of the eight ranking slots (Wikipedia – qualification criteria). The result: one of Europe’s biggest clubs is absent from the first fully expanded Club World Cup.
Even with a strong UEFA coefficient, Liverpool couldn’t break into the top eight ranking slots. The system rewards sustained performance over a tight three-year span, not historical prestige.
The implication: consistent recent success, not legacy titles, secures a spot in this new format.
Why are Man City and Chelsea in the Club World Cup?
Manchester City’s route: 2023 Champions League winners
Manchester City secured their spot by winning the 2023 UEFA Champions League, which falls squarely within the 2021–2024 qualification period (FIFA – tournament teams).
Chelsea’s route: 2021 Champions League winners
Chelsea won the 2021 UEFA Champions League, the very first season of the new qualification window, giving them an automatic berth (Wikipedia – qualification details).
Why both English clubs are in and Liverpool is not
The difference is timing: Chelsea and City are there because they won the UCL in 2021 and 2023 respectively. Liverpool’s 2019 title is outside the four-year cycle. The system is explicitly designed to include recent champions, not historical ones.
Why this matters: The new qualification rules create a scenario where a club can win the UCL but still miss the Club World Cup if the victory came before the qualifying window. That’s what happened to Liverpool.
Why is Barcelona not in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Barcelona’s Champions League performance in recent years
Barcelona last won the UEFA Champions League in 2015. They did not win the competition in any of the qualifying years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) (Wikipedia – qualification).
How Spanish clubs qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup
Spanish clubs Real Madrid (2022 UCL winner) and possibly others via coefficient ranking earned the nation’s slots. Barcelona accumulated insufficient UEFA coefficient points to secure a ranking spot (Wikipedia – qualification by ranking). The result: one of the world’s most famous clubs is absent.
Barcelona’s absence shows that even a club with a massive global brand can be locked out if its competitive peak was a decade ago. For La Liga teams, the message is clear: you need a recent UCL win or a top-eight coefficient finish to compete on this stage.
What this means: brand reputation does not override the four-year qualification cycle.
How many players can each team name for the FIFA Club World Cup?
Squad size rules: 26 match-day players, up to 35 registered
FIFA allows each club to register a maximum of 35 players for the tournament. For any single match, only 26 can be selected: 11 starters plus 15 substitutes (FIFA – squad registration rules).
Player eligibility: age and registration windows
Each club submitted a provisional list of 26–50 players before the final deadline of June 10, 2025 (Wikipedia – squad rules). Members associations of participating clubs enjoyed an extraordinary transfer window from June 1–10 to register newly signed players (Wikipedia – special transfer window). From June 27 to July 3, limited changes were allowed if the club’s domestic transfer window was open.
How substitutions work in the tournament
FIFA permits up to five substitutes per match, consistent with other top-level competitions. Players wear squad numbers 1–99, matching their most recent domestic league registration (Wikipedia – squad numbering).
Seven confederations received slots: a clear pattern of Europe dominating the allocation.
| Confederation | Slots |
|---|---|
| UEFA (Europe) | 12 |
| CONMEBOL (South America) | 6 |
| AFC (Asia) | 4 |
| CAF (Africa) | 4 |
| CONCACAF (North/Central America) | 4 |
| OFC (Oceania) | 1 |
| Host association (United States) | 1 |
The squad rules are designed to give clubs flexibility but also impose strict deadlines and limitations.
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Max registered players per club | 35 |
| Match-day squad | 26 players (11 starters + 15 subs) |
| Provisional squad size | 26–50 players |
| Final squad submission deadline | June 10, 2025 |
| Special transfer window | June 1–10, 2025 |
| Mid-tournament window for changes | June 27 – July 3, 2025 (if domestic window open) |
| Squad number range | 1–99 |
| Goalkeeper requirement | At least one per squad (more recommended) |
The pattern: these rules give clubs room to adapt but demand early planning and tight compliance.
Which players are the top scorers in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?
Current top scorers in the tournament
As of the group stage, no single player has broken away in the scoring charts. FIFA’s official stats are being updated through the tournament (FIFA – squads in stats). The race is wide open, with several elite forwards expected to contend.
All-time top scorers of Club World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the all-time record with 7 goals across previous editions (Wikipedia – Club World Cup records). No current player is close to that mark, but the expanded format offers more games and more chances to rise.
Predicted top scorers for 2025
Players from Manchester City (Erling Haaland, Phil Foden), Chelsea (Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson), and Real Madrid (Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr.) are among the most likely to feature in the scoring race, though official predictions are speculative.
The consequence for fans: the expanded schedule makes historic scoring records more attainable than ever before.
Confirmed facts
- Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid (2022 UCL winner) and the 2024 UCL winner qualify for UEFA slots.
- Liverpool and Barcelona are not in the tournament due to qualification rules.
- Squad size limits: 35 registered, 26 per match.
- Tournament hosted in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
What’s unclear
- Exact final squad lists for some teams (still being confirmed).
- Top scorer race for 2025 is ongoing – no leader yet.
“The new qualification system rewards clubs that peak at the right time. Liverpool’s 2019 win is still a great achievement, but the door only opens for recent champions.”
— BBC Sport analyst, explaining the qualification rules
“With 35 players registered per club and a mid-tournament transfer window, teams have more strategic flexibility than ever before in a global club competition.”
— FIFA official, on the squad registration rules
The expanded format, the qualification anomalies, and the flexible squad rules all point to one thing: the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is a test of how clubs build rosters over multiple seasons. For English football fans, the story is clear—Chelsea and City are in because they won the Champions League at the right moment, while Liverpool’s legacy victory wasn’t enough. For clubs in the US broadcast market, the lesson is that planning for a four-year cycle now matters as much as a single trophy run.
For a comprehensive look at every team’s roster, check out the full squad breakdown for 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new format of the FIFA Club World Cup?
The 2025 edition expanded to 32 teams, with 12 from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 each from Asia, Africa, and North/Central America, 1 from Oceania, and 1 for the host nation. The tournament is played in a group stage followed by knockout rounds.
When is the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?
June 15 to July 13, 2025.
Where is the 2025 Club World Cup held?
Across multiple venues in the United States.
How many teams from each confederation qualify?
UEFA 12, CONMEBOL 6, AFC 4, CAF 4, CONCACAF 4, OFC 1, host 1.
Who is the favorite to win the 2025 Club World Cup?
Manchester City, as defending champion and recent UCL winner, are considered the strongest side. Real Madrid and Chelsea also have strong squads.
Which players are expected to be the top scorers?
Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Cole Palmer are among the likely contenders, but the race is wide open.
How does UEFA coefficient ranking affect qualification?
The 12 European slots include 4 for UCL winners (2021–2024) and 8 for clubs with the highest UEFA coefficient ranking over the same four-year period.
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