Have Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr qualified for FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

Published at :December 6, 2024 at 3:15 PM

Modified at :December 6, 2024 at 3:15 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

FIFA Club World Cup is set to have a total of 32 teams playing in the competition.

Inter Miami qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 made everyone wonder why or how Cristiano Ronaldo’s side Al-Nassr didn’t get the spot in the competition.

FIFA have completely overhauled the FIFA Club World Cup, from moving every mid-season to every once in a four-year summer tournament, which will take place in the USA. However, this time there will be 32 teams competing in the competition as before it was only seven continental champions.

The prospect of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami participating has many confused as to why Ronaldo’s side Al-Nassr are not in the competition as the fans might have once again witnessed the two greatest players, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, faring against each other.

The #FIFACWC group stage draw. ✔️#TakeItToTheWorld pic.twitter.com/4GOctX7MgI
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 5, 2024

Have Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup?

FIFA have now brought new rules for the qualification of the competition, with each confederation earning differing numbers of places in the event which are chosen by different criteria on a confederation-by-confederation basis.

The places have been allowed to last few years’ worth of confederation club champions – Champions League winners for instance, in some situations, a four-year standing of every team’s performance in those kinds of competitions from 2021 to 2024.

All 32 places have been filled and Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are not among them. The main reason was that his side failed to win the AFC Champions League, as Saudi clubs compete in the AFC (the Asian Confederation). Their place in the Club World Cup was taken by their rivals Al-Hilal, who also won the 2021 AFC Champions League.

Meanwhile, Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds won the 2022 edition of the Champions League, UAE side Al-Ain lifted the same trophy in 2023; and South Korean club Ulsan HD qualified based on their four-year ranking.

Hence, Al-Nassr are not going to participate in the competition next year after failing to win the AFC Champions League.

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