FIFA Club World Cup facts for kids
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| Organising body | FIFA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Region | International |
| Number of teams | 32 (from 6 confederations) |
| Related competitions | FIFA Intercontinental Cup |
| Current champions |  Manchester City(1st title) |
| Most successful club(s) |  Real Madrid(5 titles) |
The FIFA Club World Cup is a big international football competition for men's club teams. It is organized by FIFA, which is the main group that runs football around the world.
This tournament first started in 2000. It was called the FIFA Club World Championship back then. After a short break from 2001 to 2004, it has been held every year since 2005. The competition brings together the best club teams from different parts of the world.
Before the FIFA Club World Cup, there was another important competition called the Intercontinental Cup. This cup was played between the winners of the top European and South American club tournaments. In 2005, the Intercontinental Cup joined with the FIFA Club World Championship. In 2006, the tournament got its current name: the FIFA Club World Cup. The team that wins the Club World Cup gets a special trophy and a certificate.
Contents
About the FIFA Club World Cup
How the Tournament Works
The FIFA Club World Cup usually has seven teams. These teams are the champions from the main club competitions in six different football regions (called confederations). These regions are:
- Asia (AFC Champions League winner)
- Africa (CAF Champions League winner)
- North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF Champions Cup winner)
- South America (CONMEBOL Libertadores winner)
- Oceania (OFC Champions League winner)
- Europe (UEFA Champions League winner)
The champion team from the country hosting the tournament also gets to play.
The tournament is a knock-out style. This means if a team loses, they are out. The host nation's champion plays against the Oceania champion first. The winner of that game joins the champions from Asia, Africa, and North America in the quarter-finals. The teams that win their quarter-final matches then play against the champions from Europe and South America in the semi-finals. Finally, the winners of the semi-finals play in the big final match.
Top Teams and Winners
Real Madrid from Spain has won the FIFA Club World Cup the most times, with five titles. The first team to win, Corinthians from Brazil, is the only host nation champion to win the cup.
Teams from Spain have won the tournament eight times, which is more than any other country. England has had four different clubs win the tournament, which is the most for any nation. The current champions are Manchester City from England. They won in 2023 by beating Fluminense from Brazil 4–0.
History of the Club World Cup
Early Ideas for a World Club Tournament
The idea of a "Football World Championship" for clubs goes way back to 1887. In that year, FA Cup winners Aston Villa played against Scottish Cup winners Hibernian. Later, in 1895, English champions Sunderland played Scottish champions Heart of Midlothian.
In 1909, there was another attempt to create a global club tournament called the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. It was held in Italy and included clubs from England, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. An English amateur team, West Auckland, won it twice.
In the 1950s, the Brazilian Football Association created the Copa Rio. They hoped it would be a club version of the FIFA World Cup. FIFA officials were interested, but it wasn't officially under FIFA's control. Another tournament, the Pequeña Copa del Mundo (Small World Cup), was held in Venezuela during the 1950s. It usually featured two teams from Europe and two from South America.
The Intercontinental Cup and FIFA's Vision
In 1957, the Tournoi de Paris saw Vasco da Gama beat Real Madrid. This was seen as a big match between the best of Europe and South America. In 1960, the Intercontinental Cup officially started. This cup was played between the champions of Europe (UEFA Champions League winner) and South America (Copa Libertadores winner).
FIFA, the world football body, felt that the Intercontinental Cup wasn't a true "world championship." This was because it only included teams from Europe and South America. FIFA wanted a competition that included clubs from all continents. They suggested this idea in 1967, but Europe and South America didn't agree at first.
Over the years, there were many attempts to create a multi-continental Club World Cup. French newspapers tried to organize one in the 1970s, but European teams often refused to join. The Intercontinental Cup itself faced problems, with European champions sometimes not wanting to play.
To save the Intercontinental Cup, a Japanese company called Toyota stepped in in 1980. They sponsored the cup, renaming it the Toyota Cup. It became a single match played in Japan. Toyota offered good prize money, which encouraged teams to participate.
Starting the FIFA Club World Cup (2000–2004)
The idea for the FIFA Club World Cup really took off in the 1990s. Sepp Blatter, who later became FIFA president, said the idea came from Silvio Berlusconi, the president of AC Milan, in 1993. Since all continents now had their own strong club championships, FIFA felt it was the right time for a true Club World Championship.
Brazil was chosen to host the first tournament in 2000. Eight teams from different continents took part. The first goal was scored by Nicolas Anelka for Real Madrid. The final was an all-Brazilian match between Corinthians and Vasco da Gama. Corinthians won on penalties after a 0–0 draw.
The second tournament was planned for Spain in 2001 with 12 clubs, but it was cancelled. This happened because FIFA's marketing partner, International Sport and Leisure, had financial problems. Another attempt to hold the competition in 2003 also failed. Finally, FIFA decided to combine the Intercontinental Cup and the Club World Championship into one event. The last Intercontinental Cup was in 2004, and the new Club World Championship started in Japan in December 2005.
Modern Knock-out Tournaments (2005–Present)
The 2005 tournament was shorter and easier to fit into the busy football calendar. It featured six continental champions. The teams from South America and Europe went straight to the semi-finals. A new trophy was also introduced. In the 2005 final, São Paulo from Brazil beat Liverpool from England 1–0.
In 2006, another Brazilian team, Internacional, won the cup by beating Barcelona. But in 2007, Brazilian teams were finally beaten when Milan from Italy won the title. The next year, Manchester United from England became world champions in 2008.
The tournament moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2009 and 2010. Barcelona won in 2009, completing a historic "sextuple" (winning six major trophies in one year). In 2010, TP Mazembe from Congo became the first team from outside Europe or South America to reach the final. They lost to Inter Milan.
The FIFA Club World Cup returned to Japan in 2011 and 2012. Barcelona won again in 2011. In 2012, Corinthians from Brazil won their second title, beating Chelsea from England.
Morocco hosted the tournament in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, Raja CA from Morocco made it to the final, becoming the second African team to do so. They lost to Bayern Munich. In 2014, Real Madrid won their first Club World Cup.
Japan hosted again in 2015 and 2016. Barcelona won their third title in 2015. In 2016, Kashima Antlers from Japan reached the final, which was a first for a Japanese club. They played a tough game against Real Madrid but lost in extra time.
The UAE hosted again in 2017 and 2018. Real Madrid made history by winning the tournament three years in a row (2016, 2017, 2018). This made them the first team to win it four times in total. In 2018, Al-Ain from the UAE became the first team from their country to reach the final.
Qatar hosted in 2019 and 2020. Liverpool won in 2019, and Bayern Munich won in 2020, completing their own "sextuple." In 2021, Chelsea won their first title. Real Madrid won again in 2022, and Manchester City won in 2023.
Future Expansion and Changes
In 2022, FIFA announced big changes for the tournament. Starting in 2025, the FIFA Club World Cup will have 32 teams and will be held every four years in June. The United States will host the 2025 tournament. The teams will be split into 8 groups, with the top 2 teams from each group moving to a knockout stage.
Because the main Club World Cup will be less frequent, FIFA also approved a new annual club competition starting in 2024 called the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. This new setup has caused some discussion, with concerns about players playing too many games.
Tournament Results
Finals Summary
Club Performances
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Years won | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid |
5 | 0 | 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 |
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| Barcelona |
3 | 1 | 2009, 2011, 2015 | 2006 |
 Corinthians |
2 | 0 | 2000, 2012 |
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 Bayern Munich |
2 | 0 | 2013, 2020 |
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| Liverpool |
1 | 1 | 2019 | 2005 |
| Chelsea |
1 | 1 | 2021 | 2012 |
| São Paulo |
1 | 0 | 2005 |
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| Internacional |
1 | 0 | 2006 |
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 Milan |
1 | 0 | 2007 |
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| Manchester United |
1 | 0 | 2008 |
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| Inter Milan |
1 | 0 | 2010 |
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| Manchester City |
1 | 0 | 2023 |
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| Vasco da Gama |
0 | 1 |
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2000 |
 Boca Juniors |
0 | 1 |
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2007 |
 LDU Quito |
0 | 1 |
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2008 |
| Estudiantes |
0 | 1 |
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2009 |
 TP Mazembe |
0 | 1 |
—
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2010 |
| Santos |
0 | 1 |
—
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2011 |
 Raja CA |
0 | 1 |
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2013 |
| San Lorenzo |
0 | 1 |
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2014 |
| River Plate |
0 | 1 |
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2015 |
 Kashima Antlers |
0 | 1 |
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2016 |
| Grêmio |
0 | 1 |
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2017 |
 Al-Ain |
0 | 1 |
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2018 |
| Flamengo |
0 | 1 |
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2019 |
 Tigres UANL |
0 | 1 |
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2020 |
| Palmeiras |
0 | 1 |
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2021 |
 Al-Hilal |
0 | 1 |
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2022 |
| Fluminense |
0 | 1 |
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2023 |
Country Performances
| Country | Titles | Runners-up | Years won | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain |
8 | 1 | 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 | 2006 |
| Brazil |
4 | 6 | 2000, 2005, 2006, 2012 | 2000, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
| England |
4 | 2 | 2008, 2019, 2021, 2023 | 2005, 2012 |
| Italy |
2 | 0 | 2007, 2010 |
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| Germany |
2 | 0 | 2013, 2020 |
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| Argentina |
0 | 4 |
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2007, 2009, 2014, 2015 |
| Ecuador |
0 | 1 |
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2008 |
| DR Congo |
0 | 1 |
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2010 |
| Morocco |
0 | 1 |
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2013 |
| Japan |
0 | 1 |
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2016 |
| United Arab Emirates |
0 | 1 |
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2018 |
| Mexico |
0 | 1 |
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2020 |
| Saudi Arabia |
0 | 1 |
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2022 |
Confederation Performances
Teams from Africa and Asia have reached the final three times each. TP Mazembe (2010) and Raja CA (2013) from Africa finished second. Kashima Antlers (2016), Al-Ain (2018), and Al-Hilal (2022) from Asia also finished second. The best result for North America was Tigres UANL finishing second in 2020. These six clubs are the only teams from outside Europe and South America to reach the final.
Auckland City from Oceania finished third in 2014. This is the best result for an Oceanian team so far.
| Confederation | Winners | Runners-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA | 16 | 3 | — |
| CONMEBOL | 4 | 11 | 5 |
| AFC | — | 3 | 5 |
| CAF | — | 2 | 4 |
| CONCACAF | — | 1 | 5 |
| OFC | — | — | 1 |
| Total | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Trophy and Awards
The FIFA Club World Cup Trophy
The first trophy used in 2000 was called the FIFA Club World Championship Cup. It was made of silver and had a football on top.
The current trophy, called the FIFA Club World Cup or la Copa, was first shown in 2005. It was designed in the United Kingdom. This trophy is gold and silver. It weighs about 5.2 kilograms (11.5 pounds) and is 50 centimeters (19.7 inches) tall.
The design of the trophy shows six pillars. These pillars stand for the six teams from the different football regions. A separate metal structure represents the winning team. All of these hold up a globe shaped like a football, which is a common feature in FIFA trophies.
Awards for Players and Teams
At the end of each tournament, special awards are given out:
- The Golden Ball is for the best player in the tournament. Media members vote for this award. The second-best player gets the Silver Ball, and the third-best gets the Bronze Ball.
- The Player of the Match award is given to the best player in each individual game.
- The FIFA Fair Play Trophy is for the team that shows the best sportsmanship.
The winning team also gets a special FIFA Champions Badge. This badge shows the trophy and can be worn on their jerseys. They can wear it until the next tournament's final. Each of the top three teams also receives gold, silver, or bronze medals for their players.
Prize Money
The first tournament in 2000 offered a total of US$28 million in prize money. The winners received US$6 million.
When the tournament restarted in 2005, the total prize money was US$16 million. The winners received US$5 million, and the runners-up received US$4 million. Teams finishing third and fourth also received prize money.
For the 2007 tournament, a play-off match was added to make it more interesting for the host nation. The prize money increased slightly in 2008 to US$16.5 million.
| Winners | $5 million |
| Runners-up | $4 million |
| Third place | $2.5 million |
| Fourth place | $2 million |
| Fifth place | $1.5 million |
| Sixth place | $1 million |
| Seventh place | $0.5 million |
Sponsors and Records
Tournament Sponsors
Like the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup has big companies that sponsor it. Toyota was a main sponsor until 2014.
In 2015, Alibaba Group signed an eight-year deal to become the main partner of the competition. Other companies like Fujifilm, Hyundai, McDonald's, and MasterCard have also sponsored the event.
Teams playing in the tournament can still wear their own club sponsors on their jerseys.
Records and Statistics
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Toni Kroos has won the FIFA Club World Cup six times, which is more than any other player. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most goals in the tournament's history, with seven goals. Hussein El Shahat has played in the most matches, with fifteen appearances.
Real Madrid has won the most titles (five) and has scored the most goals (40) in the competition. Auckland City has played in the most tournaments (11 times). Al Ahly has played the most total matches (25).
Official Songs
Since 2005, the FIFA Club World Cup has had official songs for each tournament.
| Year | Hosts | Official songs/anthems | Languages(s) | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 |  Japan |
"Legendary Meadow" | Japanese | Chemistry |
| 2006 | "Top of the World" | Japanese | ||
| 2007 | "Shining Night" | Japanese | Chemistry (supported by Monkey Majik) | |
| 2008 | "Septenova" | English and Japanese | Gospellers vs. Shintaro Tokita (from Sukima Switch) | |
| 2009 |  UAE |
"The River Sings" | Loxian | Enya |
| 2010 | ||||
| 2011 | Japan |
"Never Give Up" | Japanese | Kylee |
| 2012 | "World Quest" | Japanese | NEWS | |
| 2013 |  Morocco |
"Seven Colors" | English and Japanese | |
| 2014 | ||||
| "Come Alive" | English | RedOne feat. Chawki | ||
| 2015 | Japan |
"Anthem" | English | NEWS |
| 2016 | ||||
| 2017 | UAE |
"Kingdom" | English and Japanese | |
| 2018 | "Spirit" | Japanese | ||
| 2019 |  Qatar |
"Superstar" | Japanese | |
| 2022 | Morocco |
"Welcome To Morocco" | English and Arabic | RedOne, Douzi, Hatim Ammor, Asma Lamnawar, Rym, Aminux, Nouaman Belaiachi, Zouhair Bahaoui, Dizzy DROS |
| 2023 |  Saudi Arabia |
"It's On" | English | Bebe Rexha, RedOne |
See also
- List of association football competitions
- FIFA Women's Club World Cup
