THE FIFA announced this Tuesday the basic regulations of the new Club World Cupwhich will be held for the first time this summer from June 15 to July 13, 2025. The main novelty is that clubs will be able to have a list of up to 35 players, with a minimum of 26 and three of them must be goalkeeper. In addition, the body that governs this sport globally, chaired by Gianni Infantinoallows changes in appeals if it concerns a footballer whose contract has expired. In his place, an addition can arrive, whether it is a rookie or a young player.
Provisional rosters can include up to 50 players, while final rosters will have a maximum of 35 players, more than at any summer national team tournament in history. This way, during Club World Cup matches, teams will be able to start with 11 players and 15 players on the bench, which is more typical of a pre-season match. Of these 35, nine will be canceled per match.
And regarding changes to the final lists, FIFA offers two options. The first is that clubs will be able to replace players whose contract has expired naturally during the competition. And the second is that they will be able to add a maximum of two new players to the final roster, which will not count towards the 35 player maximum.
Injured or ill goalkeepers who are replaced will surrender their FIFA accreditation and, therefore, will no longer be considered part of the final list. Of course, under no circumstances will a player be able to play with two different teams during the Club World Cup. Whatever the change of season in the middle of competition, the door will not be open to this type of transfer between participants. And in terms of organization, teams must achieve USA three days before the start of the tournament.
Club World Cup scoring system
Finally, the scoring and ranking system of the first phase is as follows. When two or more teams from the same group are tied on points after completing the first phase, the following criteria will be applied:
- a) the highest number of points obtained in group matches between the teams in question.
- b) a greater goal difference in group matches between the teams in question; the most goals scored in group matches between the teams in question.
- If after applying criteria a) to c), the teams are tied, to determine their final position, the criteria stipulated in points a) to c) will be applied only to the matches of the remaining teams.
- If a decision cannot be made, the general concepts of the entire group will be reviewed, ending with the cards.
The tournament is serious
To ensure the integrity of the competition, no club participating in the competition may, directly or indirectly, hold or trade securities or shares in any other club participating in the competition, be a member of any other club participating in the competition , be involved in any activity. manner in the management, administration and results of any other club participating in the competition, have any type of power in the management, administration and results of any other club participating in the competition.
