In a historic decision, FIFA has officially rebranded the legacy of the Club World Cup, stripping Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and other previous winners of their “world champion” status.
The global football governing body announced that these clubs will now be referred to as FIFA Intercontinental Champions, following a restructuring of the competition’s recognition criteria.
This landmark ruling means Chelsea are now recognised as the first-ever winners of the rebranded FIFA Club World Cup.
Enzo Maresca’s side defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in a commanding performance in the final of the newly expanded 2025 edition of the tournament.
This year’s competition featured 32 clubs from six confederations for the first time, marking a significant evolution in the format.
Chelsea’s triumph now officially stands as the first true world championship under FIFA’s revised standard.
The next edition of the Club World Cup is scheduled for 2029, with PSG, Al Hilal, Egypt’s Pyramids FC, and Cruz Azul of Mexico already booked for the tournament after clinching their respective continental titles last season.