How did Salzburg make it among the best teams in the world? 2025 Qualification and FIFA ranking explained.
Out of the 32 teams qualified, 12 come from Europe. Among them are the winners of the last four UEFA Champions League finals - which means three teams as Real Madrid won it twice.
The rest of the teams qualified based on their UEFA rankings. But because the Club World Cup has a rule that each European country be only represented by two teams at most, Austrian side Salzburg made the cut as they ranked 18th. All that despite only reaching the Champions League round of 16 once and falling into the Europa League twice, where they failed in the first play-off round each time.
Salzburg, however, qualified for the group phase (now league phase) of the Champions League multiple times as the winners of the Austrian Bundesliga. They won 14 out of the last 18 titles there, including a streak of 10 in a row, before coming second to Sturm Graz last season.
Why teams like Liverpool, Arsenal or Barcelona will be missing this year?
Barcelona will also miss the tournament, as the Blaugranas were outranked by Real Madrid and Atletico for the two LaLiga spots. Arsenal and Liverpool are among the notable English clubs missing - the Premier League will be represented by Manchester City and Chelsea, two of the last three Champions League winners.
While Lionel Messi will shine at the Club World Cup with Inter Miami, his career-long rival Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the tournament. His Al Nassr didn't qualify, as the only spot for a Saudi club went to Al Hilal, the reigning league champions.
What is the final lineup of qualified teams for the Club World Cup 2025?
Group A: Porto, Palmeiras, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
Group B: PSG, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
Group C: Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors, Benfica, Auckland
Group D: Chelsea, Flamengo, Esperance Tunis, Club Leon
Group E: Inter, River Plate, Urawa Reds, Monterrey
Group F: Dortmund, Fluminense, Mamelodi Sundowns, Ulsan
Group G: Manchester City, Juventus, Al Ain, Wydad
Group H: Salzburg, Real Madrid, Pachuca, Al Hilal