Chelsea Yet to Secure Spot for 2029 FIFA Club World Cup Despite Being The Current Champions
Despite lifting the prestigious FIFA club worldcup trophy, Chelsea FC are yet to confirm their qualification for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. With the new expanded 32-team format of the tournament gaining global attention, many fans assumed that a club of Chelsea’s stature would be a sure inclusion. However, current standings prove otherwise.
As it stands, only four clubs have secured their places for the 2029 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, which is expected to take place under FIFA’s new expanded format introduced for the first time in 2025. These teams are:
- Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) – Qualified by winning the 2028 UEFA Champions League.
- Cruz Azul – Representing North America (CONCACAF) after securing the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
- Pyramids FC – Crowned champions of the CAF Champions League and thus secured Africa’s spot.
- Al-Ahli – The Asian giants qualified by winning the AFC Champions League.
Chelsea, however, are notably absent from this shortlist.
How Qualification Works for the Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup is transitioning from its older 7-team format to a new 32-team mega tournament, with the first edition of this revamped event taking place in the United States in 2025. The qualification criteria are strict, especially for European (UEFA) clubs.
Europe have 12 slots in total, with a mix of:
- UEFA Champions League winners from the previous four seasons
- Clubs with the highest UEFA coefficient points during that period, if spots remain
For Chelsea to qualify for the 2029 edition, they must either:
- Win the UEFA Champions League between 2025 and 2028, or
- Accumulate enough UEFA ranking points via deep runs in UEFA competitions (Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League) between 2025 and 2028 to be among the best-performing clubs.
Why Chelsea Aren’t In Yet
Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel, defeating Manchester City in an all-English final. That victory granted them access to the 2021 Club World Cup, which they went on to win. However, that achievement falls outside the qualification window for the 2029 tournament, which focuses on performances from 2025 to 2028.
The current confirmed participants like PSG won their continental competitions within this new qualification period. Chelsea, on the other hand, have struggled for consistency in recent years, missing out on Champions League qualification and undergoing several managerial changes since their 2021 triumph.
Chelsea’s Road Ahead
The Blues must now look ahead to future European campaigns to secure their spot. Winning the UEFA Champions League automatically guarantees entry, but this is no easy feat given the level of competition from clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and more.
Another pathway is via UEFA’s ranking system, which calculates points based on club performance in UEFA competitions. That means:
- Reaching the latter stages of the Champions League, Europa League, or even the Conference League
- Avoiding early exits
- Consistent yearly participation
A deep run in a UEFA tournament in any of the next few seasons could boost Chelsea’s coefficient ranking and improve their chances of qualification without needing to win the Champions League outright.
Could FIFA Expand the Tournament Further?
There’s speculation among fans that FIFA could expand the Club World Cup beyond the 32-team format by 2029, opening up more opportunities for elite clubs like Chelsea. However, as of now, FIFA has given no official indication that such an expansion will take place. The current plan is to stick with 32 teams divided across the six continental confederations:
- UEFA (Europe): 12 teams
- CONMEBOL (South America): 6 teams
- AFC (Asia): 4 teams
- CAF (Africa): 4 teams
- CONCACAF (North & Central America): 4 teams
- OFC (Oceania): 1 team
- Host nation: 1 slot
If FIFA decides to increase the number of UEFA teams, Chelsea could benefit but fans should not count on that happening.
What Fans Are Saying
Chelsea supporters have expressed concern and confusion on social media, with many wrongly assuming the club had already qualified due to their historical success and recent Club World Cup title.
One fan tweeted: “How can Chelsea, the former champions, not be in the next Club World Cup? This new format is a joke.”
However, experts have clarified that past victories outside the 2025–2028 window do not count towards 2029 qualification.
