FIFA has officially reclassified past Club World Cup winners, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. These clubs will now be recognised as ‘FIFA Intercontinental Champions’ rather than world champions.
According to The Daily Mail, the world football governing body has decided that Chelsea will be recognised as the first official winner of the newly expanded and formalised Club World Cup format.
The decision comes after Enzo Maresca’s side defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final of the 2025 tournament last week, earning the title of the only team officially recognised as world champions under the new system.
This year’s edition marked a major shift in the tournament’s format, expanding to 32 teams from six confederations. The next edition of the Club World Cup is scheduled for 2029, with Paris Saint-Germain, Pyramids FC, Al Hilal, and Cruz Azul already qualified after winning their respective continental competitions.
