
<p>FIFA and the European Club Association, or the ECA, have signed a new <a href="https://twitter.com/fifamedia/status/1640350621688643585" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Memorandum of Understanding</a>. The aim of the agreement is to stabilize the club and international schedule. The major part of that is the agreement on FIFA’s unanimously agreed match calendar. </p>



<p>This includes support for the expanded <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-expands-club-world-cup-to-32-teams-for-2025-20230217-WST-420236.html">2025 FIFA Club World Cup</a>, which is set to feature a record 32 teams. Of those 32 teams, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-reveals-2025-club-world-cup-qualification-criteria-20230315-WST-423418.html">12 will be from Europe</a>. Some of those are the winners of the UEFA Champions League, such as Real Madrid or Chelsea. Other teams out of Europe qualify solely based on rankings. </p>



<p>Notably, the Chairman of the ECA, which agreed to this Memorandum of Understanding with FIFA, is Nasser Al-Khelaifi. You may recognize the name Al-Khelaifi, who is also the President of PSG, which would likely play in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. The slots for rankings would allow teams such as PSG or Manchester City to play in the Club World Cup. Remember, neither has won the UEFA Champions League.</p>



<p>This Memorandum of Understanding signals more games than just the 2025 Club World Cup. FIFA and the ECA agreed to an annual game between the winner of the UEFA Champions League and a playoff of intercontinental winners. Also, a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup would be in the works for the future. </p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FIFA and ECA to finally sign MOU today that had been expected to be sealed at World Cup. Key points:<br>⚽️ About $100m more for releasing players for World Cup 💰 <br>⚽️ JV to commercialise new 32-team Club World Cup 💰 <br>⚽️ Commitment to not arbitrarily change calendar (let’s see!)</p>— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) <a href="https://twitter.com/tariqpanja/status/1640309879251386371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>ECA agreement means European clubs commit to Club World Cup</h2>



<p>The agreement between the ECA and FIFA will add games for the top teams in Europe. Winners of European domestic leagues and the continental competition will compete in the Club World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino hopes it more resembles the World Cup.</p>



<p>Infantino said the agreement should help the popularity of the events and, in turn, the monetary success.</p>



<p>“To have the new International Match Calendar endorsed by ECA provides the necessary balance between club and national team football. We have exciting projects ahead, including the new FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 and the new FIFA Women`s Club World Cup. A close collaboration with clubs in Europe, and the rest of the world, will be essential for the success of those events.”</p>



<p>While the success of the events is helping, it brings a tax on the players. FIFPRO is the worldwide player representation organization. Previously, it said the proposed Club World Cup increase in number of games disregards player safety.</p>



<p>“Once again, decisions to scale competitions without implementing appropriate safeguards are short-sighted and pay no attention to players’ health and performance.”&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / FIFA Media</em></p>


European clubs are all but locked in for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with the ECA and FIFA agreeing to a new Memorandum of Understanding.

European clubs confirm support for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup


<p>FIFA has officially <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-club-world-cup-fifa-2025-b1067286.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">approved plans</a> to expand the Club World Cup in 2025 and revealed qualification criteria. The new rules mean that teams like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> and even the Seattle Sounders have already qualify for the tournament. </p>



<p>Under the new scheme, clubs that win the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Champions League</a> from 2021 to 2024 would automatically qualify for the competition in 2025. Chelsea won the prestigious tournament in 2021 and Real are currently the reigning champs. Two more teams will receive qualification to the Club World Cup by winning the next two Champions Leagues. This is, of course, assuming that different clubs win the competition.</p>



<h5>Infantino wants tournament to resemble World Cup</h5>



<p>The current format for the Club World Cup consists of just seven teams. However, this will all change for the 2025 tournament. FIFA president Gianni Infantino <a href="https://theathletic.com/4307281/2023/03/14/fifa-club-world-cup-2025-teams/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously stated</a> that he wanted the competition to “feel like a World Cup.” Thirty-two total teams will take part of the 2025 Club World Cup.</p>



<p>Along with UEFA Champions League winners, additional European clubs will qualify for the tournament based on rankings. This means that teams that have never won the Champions League would be invited to the Club World Cup. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a> are the two most high-profile clubs that would fit this category.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kaveh Solhekol explains the new Club World Cup format 💭 <a href="https://t.co/J0wBSeVT3W">pic.twitter.com/J0wBSeVT3W</a></p>— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1635693700729778181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Champions from equivalent competitions would also qualify for the 2025 tournament. This would include African Champions League winners and Copa Libertadores champions. There will also be a cap of two teams per country involved in the tournament. However, this would obviously change should multiple teams from each nation win their Champions League equivalents.</p>



<h2>Sounders already secured qualification to 2025 Club World Cup</h2>



<p>Much like European teams, CONCACAF will feature similar qualifications. As previous winners of the CONCACAF Champions League, Seattle Sounders and CF Monterrey have already qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup. In all, four CONCACAF clubs will take part in the tournament.</p>



<p>Should a particular club win the region’s Champions League twice, the next highest-ranking team will then qualify for the tournament. More details on the ranking system come out in the future.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo</em></p>


FIFA has announced their qualification criteria for the 2025 Club World Cup, with multiple teams already securing a spot.

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