Despite being banned by UEFA from European competitions this season due to financial rule violations, Juventus secured qualification for the 2025 Club World Cup after Napoli’s elimination from the Champions League on Tuesday.
Barcelona’s victory over Napoli in the round of 16 second leg ensured Juventus’ advancement to the revamped FIFA event with a 4-2 aggregate score, based on a European ranking system.
Juventus becomes the 21st team to secure a spot in the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States from June to July 2025, featuring continental champions from 2021 to 2024 and other high-ranked teams from those competitions.
The qualification of Juventus came just a day after Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club, Al Nassr, was eliminated from the Asian Champions League quarterfinals.
While Barcelona’s place in Europe’s 12 entries is uncertain as it trails Spanish rival Atlético Madrid in the European rankings, Juventus’ berth is assured as Napoli’s exit solidified its position as the second-best Italian team.
UEFA’s one-season ban on Juventus, imposed in July following a false accounting case, resulted in the team’s exclusion from its competitions and a hefty fine. However, Juventus is set to recoup much of the penalty through prize money from the Club World Cup, with the tournament following the traditional World Cup format.
The participating teams include Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, and potentially either Atletico Madrid or Barcelona. Other contenders include Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, and Salzburg.
Brazilian teams Flamengo, Palmeiras, and Fluminense, along with Seattle Sounders, and Mexican teams Leon and Monterrey have also qualified. Additional participants include Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, Al Ahly of Egypt, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, and Auckland City of New Zealand. The final participant from South America will be determined after the Copa Libertadores final on November 30, 2024.
