There is a fresh Fortnite mystery that’s swept the gaming world, but this time, football is the mystery itself—it just happens to center on why three of England’s biggest clubs aren’t attending the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Manchester City will be attending, but Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal won’t. Why aren’t they participating, and what does that indicate about the selection process for the teams?
The real reason why Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal are boycotting the 2025 Club World Cup
32 of the world’s largest clubs will be invited to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, but none of England’s giants. Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal were not invited alongside their counterparts, reports Gistreel, on the basis of a strict points-based system used by FIFA. The system awards clubs points in line with performances over the past four years in the UEFA Champions League, and only the most frequent and consistent clubs are invited.
Manchester United, despite all their past glory, have been performing terribly in the recent past in European competitions. Liverpool, who won the Champions League in 2019, failed to gain enough points in the next seasons. Arsenal, however, returned to the Champions League a few months ago after many years and failed to gain enough points to qualify.
This is how the points system excluded some of England’s biggest clubs from membership
TalkSport informs us that the qualification relied on how the club did between 2021 and 2024 in the Champions League. Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid qualified since they won the tournament or maintained a consistent streak in the latter stages of the tournament. United, Liverpool, and Arsenal did not qualify, forfeiting precious points and ultimately a spot in the longer tournament.
Why Manchester City is in—but United, Liverpool, and Arsenal are not
There has to be caution against confusing Manchester United with Manchester City, who will represent England at the 2025 Club World Cup. Manchester City’s recent dominance of football on the pitch in European as well as domestic football, capped by a Champions League title, ensured their participation. The same could not be assured of United, Liverpool, or Arsenal, whose recent European display was short of the required standard as provided by FIFA.
As TalkSport summarizes, “Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid are already among the clubs to have secured spots in the 2025 Club World Cup.”
United, Liverpool, and Arsenal’s absence is a reminder that past triumphs won won’t secure future appearances—performances today alone matter. Rebuild now begins for the three clubs.
That’s how the new format lays down the gauntlet for Europe’s best
The redesigned Club World Cup is more clubs, sure, but more competition. Performing at the European standard should be a priority for the club in the event that they wish to be the largest in the sporting arena globally. United, Liverpool, and Arsenal view it wake-up call and a time for a comeback next year.
What’s next: The agony of being snubbed and what’s in store for England’s giants
Missing out on competing in the 2025 Club World Cup will be a letdown to Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal supporters, but it is an indication of just how much these words mean to them. They will need to go back to the drawing board and make it a core business in case they become the winner of the next one.
The “secret room” of this tale is concealed, however, not in Fortnite but in the FIFA qualification system. Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal were denied entry into next year’s 2025 Club World Cup on recent performances and not on merit. Rebuild now begins for the three clubs.
