Why Chelsea is in the 2025 Club World Cup and Liverpool Isn’t
If you follow international soccer and are a Premier League fan, you might expect to see both Chelsea and Liverpool take center stage in the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, especially given their strong records in Europe.
After Chelsea’s complicated run and fourth-place finish in the 2024-2025 Premier League season, it would only seem reasonable to see this year’s Premier League champs led by Arne Slot fight for global silverware at the all-new competition taking place all across the United States between June 14 and July 13, 2025.
However, a quick browse through the list of teams in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will surprise you, as only Chelsea has made the cut for the tournament in the U.S.
So yes, Liverpool (much like other top Premier League teams such as Arsenal and the once-great Manchester United) will not play in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
This outcome is due to the tricky qualification system which, as we explain in our article on why Barcelona is not playing in the FIFA Club World Cup, involves both team performance and FIFA’s established rules.
Key points that affected Liverpool’s chances include:
Champions League Titles Count: For the 2025 edition, only clubs that won the UEFA Champions League from 2021 to 2024 were guaranteed entry. Chelsea picked up their trophy in 2021, securing their place.
A Cap on English Clubs: FIFA’s “two clubs per nation” rule applied here. Both Chelsea and Manchester City secured titles during the qualifying period, thus locking in both English spots and excluding this year’s Premier League champions.
Strong Runs Not Enough: Although Liverpool had commendable Champions League runs, they did not win the trophy in the crucial years. Consequently, they fell short of automatic qualification, despite consistently ranking at the top of the Premier League and UEFA standings.
So, if you’re planning to place a bet on the 2025 tournament via SportsBet, keep in mind that only Chelsea (and Manchester City) will represent England, with Liverpool sitting this one out due to FIFA’s qualification rules rather than performance alone.
This expanded competition now features 32 clubs, divided into eight groups of four, providing plenty of variety and potential upsets for soccer fans and punters.
For a complete overview of the event, you can check out our guide to what the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is, explore the full list of the teams involved in the competition, and mark all the most important dates to remember in our 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Schedule.
Then, if you are considering placing a bet on the event, here’s a list of the key pages you may want to bookmark and keep an eye on:
FIFA Club World Cup Betting Odds
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Outrights Betting Odds
Related Guides to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
What is the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?
Breaking Down the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Prize Pool
Which Teams Are in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group-by-Group Preview
Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?