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Why are Chelsea in the Club World Cup, but not Liverpool?

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea and Manchester City are the two English teams in the 2025 Club World Cup, with Premier League champions Liverpool not eligible.

Both Chelsea and City secured their places by winning the Champions League between 2021 and 2024.

Clubs from Europe were given 12 of the 32 places at this summer's tournament.

Four were intended for the Champions League winners in the qualifying period - from 2020-2021 to 2023-24 - and eight to the next best teams in the competition.

As Real won two Champions Leagues in the four-year qualifying period, the nine best 'non-winners' were awarded Club World Cup qualification.

Only two teams from each nation are allowed to qualify - unless more won each continent's equivalent Champions League during the qualifying period.

As Chelsea and City both won the Champions League in the qualifying period, they have taken England's two spots.

Of teams not to win the Champions League between 2021 and 2024, Liverpool were the fifth-best performing team across Europe.

Red Bull Salzburg - the 15th best team not to win the Champions League - were the lowest-ranked side to be granted a spot in the Club World Cup.

Liverpool, RB Leipzig, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and AC Milan all finished higher than Salzburg, but all come from countries from which two sides had already qualified.

Which teams from Europe have qualified and how?

Cole Palmer in possession next to Curtis Jones and Diogo JotaGetty Images

While Chelsea will play at the Club World Cup, Liverpool will not

  • Chelsea (England) - 2021 Champions League winners

  • Real Madrid (Spain) - 2022 and 2024 Champions League winners

  • Manchester City (England) - 2023 Champions League winners

  • Bayern Munich () - Best non-Champions League winners

  • Paris St-Germain () - Second best non-Champions League winners

  • Borussia Dortmund () - Third best non-Champions League winners

  • Inter Milan (Italy) - Fourth best non-Champions League winners

  • Porto (Portugal) - Fifth best non-Champions League winners*

  • Atletico Madrid (Spain) - Sixth best non-Champions League winners*

  • Benfica (Portugal) - Seventh best non-Champions League winners*

  • Juventus (Italy) - Eighth best non-Champions League winners*

  • Red Bull Salzburg - (Austria) Ninth best non-Champions League winners*

*denotes where other teams finished higher but were ineligible to qualify

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