CLUB WORLD CUP
2029 Club World Cup: PSG is the 2nd qualified, what about Barça?
Published New:2/06/2025 - 00:58h
Updated New:12/06/2025 - 08:46h
Three teams have already secured their qualification for the 2029 Club World Cup. What does Barça need to get into the FIFA tournament?
Paris Saint-Germain became the first European club to qualify for the 2029 Club World Cup. The team led by Luis Enrique secured their spot in the tournament organized by FIFA after winning the UEFA Champions League 24/25 with a 'manita' against Inter Milan (5-0).
In that sense, the French team re-qualifies for the continental tournament, as they will also be in the 2025 edition that begins on June 14 in the United States. FC Barcelona, on the other hand, will not be in the first World Cup, but is well on its way to qualifying for the 2029 edition.
Barça leads the ranking of Spanish clubs for the next World Cup
After reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 24/25, Barça leads the ranking of Spanish clubs for the next World Cup. The 'culés' have 41 points, more than Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid (27).
However, according to the tournament's qualification system, there are only two places assigned for Spanish clubs, so if 'merengues' and 'colchoneros' win two of the next three editions of the Champions League, Barça would automatically be out of the tournament even if they score more points than both in the ranking.
Each victory in the Champions League gives clubs 3 points in the system, plus 1 point for a draw. After passing each phase, teams receive 3 extra points from the round of 16 onwards, whether they qualify directly in the group stage or through the 'play off'. In the repechage, however, no points are awarded for the result.
On the contrary, winning any of the next three Champions Leagues will allow Barça to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. For the moment, Inter Milan leads the European ranking with 48 points, three more than PSG (43). Arsenal is third with 41, tied with Barça, but Paris is already qualified as champion of 24/25.
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter Milan | 48 |
| 2 | Paris Saint-Germain | 43 (qualified) |
| 3 | Arsenal | 41 |
| 4 | FC Barcelona | 41 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 34 |
| 6 | Bayern Munich | 31 |
| 7 | Borussia Dortmund | 31 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 30 |
| 9 | Atlético de Madrid | 27 |
| 10 | Real Madrid | 27 |
Teams qualified for the 2029 Club World Cup
Thus, there are two three teams qualified for the second edition of the Club World Cup, the first two, in fact, participants in the 2025 edition. Al Ahli will play in group A along with the Brazilian Palmeiras, Porto and the local Inter Miami.
In the case of Paris, Luis Enrique's team was placed in group B along with Atlético de Madrid, Botafogo of Brazil and the Seattle Sounders of the United States. After winning the Champions League, the Gauls arrive as the main favorite to lift the trophy.
Al Ahli, meanwhile, secured their qualification for the 2029 World Cup after winning the Asian Champions League Elite. In the final, the Saudis defeated Kawasaki Frontale in Jeddah (2-0) with goals from Brazilian Galeno and former 'culé' Franck Kessié.
The third team to qualify for the FIFA tournament in its next edition is Pyramids FC (Egypt). The team led by Croatian Krunoslav Jurcic defeated Mamelodi Saunders of South Africa (2-1) on Sunday to win the African Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate (the first leg ended 1-1).
In addition, the fourth club to qualify for the next Club World Cup is expected to be Cruz Azul of Mexico. To do so, they must beat Vancouver Whitecaps of Canada in the final to be played in the Mexican capital in a single match.
The first teams to qualify for the 2029 Club World Cup:
- Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia) - AFC Champions League Elite 24/25.
- Paris Saint-Germain (France) - champion of the UEFA Champions League 24/25.
- Pyramids FC (Egypt) - champion of the CAF Champions League 24/25
- Cruz Azul (Mexico) - champion of the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2025.
