The Club World Cup is been a tournament Liverpool has won in the past in its previous iteration, with Jurgen Klopp lifting the trophy six months after winning the Champions League in Madrid.
That win cemented Liverpool as champions of the world, but regardless of what happens this season – with Liverpool one of the favourites to win the Champions League – the Reds won’t be in the States next summer.
The new iteration of the tournament will feature 32 teams and will now take place every four years rather than every year.
For the new competition, FIFA rules dictate that only two teams can be entered from each nation, and is worked out – in Europe at least – based on performances in the Champions League over the last five years.
Manchester City famously won the trophy for the first time in its history in 2023, while Chelsea defied the odds to become European champion in 2021.Liverpool isn’t the only big-name club to miss out, with Barcelona also being left out due to the performances of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
Italian giants AC Milan and Napoli will also be left out, despite Juventus making it in.There was controversy over the tournament earlier in the year after Inter Miami was awarded a place – despite not being MLS champions.
The Lionel Messi-led side won the MLS Supporters Shield for having the best regular season record, but fans felt the decision was only made to get Messi a place in the tournament.
