The Club Badges of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United
The three Premier League teams are absent from this summer’s Club World Cup tournament (Picture: Getty)
Some of the biggest teams in Europe are taking part in the Club World Cup this summer but there’s no Arsenal, Manchester United or Liverpool.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the two Premier League sides heading to the United States as they attempt to get their hands on more silverware.
They will be joined by the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Atletico Madrid.
Ahead of the revamped tournament getting started on June 14, here’s why there will be no Arsenal, United or Liverpool at the 2025 Club World Cup…
Why are Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool not playing in the Club World Cup?
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Liverpool are the current Premier League champions but they won’t be playing at the Club World Cup, nor will the top-flight runners-up Arsenal.
United, who just endured a horrific 2024-25 campaign but remain one of the biggest clubs in England, won’t be taking part in the tournament either.
Los Angeles Football Club v Club América - FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Play-In
The Club World Cup has been expanded to 32 teams for 2025 (Picture: Getty)
That’s because of FIFA’s qualification rules, with only 12 of the 32 spots at the Club World Cup handed to European teams.
Under FIFA’s rules, the Champions League winners from the last four seasons (2021-2024 for this Club World Cup) gain automatic qualification.
That’s why Chelsea and City are taking part, because they both landed the Champions League trophy in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
Have any of them won the Club World Cup before?
Liverpool FC vs CR Flamengo - FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019
Liverpool won the Club World Cup under former manager Jurgen Klopp (Picture: Getty)
United and Liverpool have both previously been crowned champions of the Club World Cup – but Arsenal have never even played in it before.
Before the Club World Cup was expanded for 2025, it only featured seven teams, with just one European taking part as the winners of the most recent Champions League.
Arsenal have never won the Champions League in their history – which means they have not participated in the Club World Cup to date.
United featured in the 2008 Club World Cup after winning the Champions League in the 2007-08 season – and were crowned champions – defeating Ecuadorian side LDU Quito in the final.
Liverpool, meanwhile, entered the 2019 Club World Cup after their triumph in the 2018-19 Champions League and also walked away with the trophy by beating Brazilian team Flamengo in the final.
Club World Cup 2025 groups
AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Manchester City are the current Club World Cup champions (Picture: Getty)
Group A
Palmeiras – Winners of the 2021 Copa Libertadores
Porto – Fifth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Al Ahly – Winners of the 2020/21 CAF Champions League
Inter Miami – Winners of the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield
Group B
PSG – Second-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Atletico Madrid – Sixth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Botafogo – Winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores
Seattle Sounders – Winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League
Group C
Bayern Munich – Best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Auckland City – Best OFC Champions League winners in the OFC four-year ranking
Boca Juniors – Second-best ranked eligible team in the CONMEBOL four-year ranking
Benfica – Seventh-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Group D
Flamengo – Winners of the 2022 Copa Libertadores
Esperance de Tunis – Best-ranked eligible team in the CAF four-year ranking
Chelsea – Winners of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
Los Angeles FC – Winners of the play-in match
Real Betis Balompie v Chelsea FC - UEFA Conference League Final 2025
Chelsea are aiming to land their second trophy under Enzo Maresca (Picture: Getty)
Group E
River Plate – Best-ranked eligible team in the CONMEBOL four-year ranking
Urawa Red Diamonds – Winners of the 2022 AFC Champions League
Monterray – Winners of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League
Inter Milan – Fourth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Group F
Fluminense – Winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores
Borussia Dortmund – Third-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Ulsan HD – Best-ranked eligible team in the AFC four-year ranking
Mamelodi Sundowns – Second-best ranked eligible team in the CAF four-year ranking
Group G
Man City – Winners of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Wydad AC – Winners of the 2021/22 CAF Champions League
Al Ain – Winners of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League
Juventus – Eighth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
Group H
Real Madrid – Winners of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League
Al Hilal – Winners of the 2021 AFC Champions League
Pachuca – Winners of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League
Red Bull Salzburg – Ninth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
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