Chelsea may have lifted the revamped Club World Cup trophy in impressive fashion, but despite their triumph, they won’t be returning for the next edition in 2029 — at least not yet. In an unexpected twist, their final opponents Paris Saint-Germain, who were convincingly beaten 3-0, are already confirmed participants for the upcoming tournament.
Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea produced a dominant display against the reigning Champions League winners, PSG. Rising star Cole Palmer was the standout performer, netting two superb goals in the opening half. New signing Joao Pedro then added a third with a composed chip before the break. Chelsea controlled proceedings throughout the match, with PSG’s Joao Neves receiving a red card for an unsportsmanlike incident involving Marc Cucurella’s hair in the second half.
The win not only secured Chelsea a prestigious international title but also came with an enormous $125 million cash prize. Yet, what puzzled fans most was the announcement that despite the emphatic victory, Chelsea’s place in the next Club World Cup remains unconfirmed.
Why is Chelsea not automatically qualified for 2029?
FIFA has set specific criteria for the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, with participation determined through a combination of recent Champions League winners and UEFA club rankings, rather than solely on winning the current tournament.
Here’s the breakdown:
UEFA (Europe) receives 12 places
CONMEBOL (South America) gets 6
AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), and CONCACAF (North America) each claim 4
OFC (Oceania) has 1 spot
The host nation’s representative takes the final spot — this is how Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami featured in this year’s event.
Unfortunately for Chelsea, their Club World Cup triumph doesn’t serve as a direct qualification route. FIFA prioritizes the last four UEFA Champions League winners for automatic places, with the remaining European slots filled according to the UEFA club rankings.
Since PSG claimed last season’s Champions League crown, they’ve already secured one of UEFA’s allocated positions — despite their defeat in the Club World Cup final. Chelsea, however, currently sit 14th in the UEFA rankings, and with only 12 places available for European teams, they’re currently on the outside looking in.
To secure a spot at the 2029 Club World Cup, Chelsea must either clinch an upcoming Champions League title or climb high enough in UEFA’s rankings.
It’s a frustrating scenario: winning the Club World Cup yet still needing to fight for a place in the next one, while the losing team heads in guaranteed. Chelsea supporters will be hoping the team’s form continues and that qualification is secured sooner rather than later.
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