As anticipation builds for the expanded 2025 Membership World Cup, followers across the globe are marking their calendars for what guarantees to be a landmark summer time in the USA. That includes 32 of the world’s high golf equipment and $1 billion in prize cash, this month-long match goals to crown a real champion of world soccer between June 14 and July 13. Hosted throughout iconic cities from Atlanta to Seattle, the competitors is a daring new step for FIFA—and one which many hoped would come with a doable romantic reunion between Lionel Messi and his former membership, Barcelona.
However that dream could have to attend. Regardless of rising hypothesis and a emptiness within the match roster, Barcelona has not been invited. And the reason being extra difficult than followers would possibly count on.
New period for golf equipment, however not for Barcelona
The revamped Membership World Cup is designed to showcase sustained excellence over time, not simply one-off flashes of brilliance. Whereas Messi is confirmed to function with Inter Miami, Barca’s absence has drawn explicit consideration. Their followers had hoped {that a} hole left by one other membership would possibly give the Catalans a backdoor into the match. These hopes have been dashed—at the very least for now.
Based on Spanish newspaper Marca, “FIFA has not prolonged an invite to the Spanish heavyweights after Mexican facet Membership Leon had been faraway from the match for violating multi-club possession guidelines.”
This example started when Membership Leon, a high Mexican staff, was faraway from the match on account of their shared possession with Pachuca, one other participant. The violation of FIFA’s multi-club possession laws compelled Leon out, however their attraction to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has frozen any try to interchange them till a ruling is made on Could 6.
Within the meantime, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the vacant spot will doubtless be stuffed by a playoff between Membership America and Los Angeles FC, moderately than providing the place outright to a European membership like Barcelona.
Why Barcelona seems to be much less more likely to make the reduce
Whereas followers could argue Barcelona deserves a spot based mostly on their present type—main La Liga, within the Copa del Rey closing, and within the Champions League semifinals—FIFA’s choice standards inform a unique story.
The European spots for the 2025 Membership World Cup had been allotted based mostly on UEFA coefficients and performances from 2021 to 2024, not simply the present marketing campaign. “Barcelona had been eradicated within the Champions League group levels in each the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons and didn’t carry out nicely within the Europa League both,” defined Diario AS.
Due to this, the Blaugrana did not qualify on sporting benefit, and, crucially, no European staff was disqualified, which means there was no regulatory foundation for inviting them to fill Leon’s spot.
Even when FIFA had been to contemplate it, the Catalans wouldn’t push for an invitation. “The membership gained’t push for inclusion within the match,” reported Diario AS. “They’re conscious of the laws and perceive they haven’t earned their place by sporting efficiency.”
