While the new formula of the Club World Cup started two days ago in the United States, a European giant shines with its absence: FC Barcelona. A situation all the more difficult to swallow for the Catalan club, a reigning Spanish champion, that he sees his eternal rival, Real Madrid, as well as Atlético, represent the Liga. But according to explosive daily information Marcathe Blaugrana would not have accepted this sidelining without reacting. Joan Laporta, the Barcelona president, would have personally won his phone to request a late invitation directly from the highest bodies of world football.
FIFA says no: end of inadmissibility for laorta
The opportunity, as slim as it is, was born from the exclusion of the Mexican Club Leon club. Due to multi -ownership rules (the group holding Leon also has Pachuca), a place suddenly released in the competition table. An unexpected boon for Barça, which, despite its national titles in 2024-2025 (Liga, King Cup, Spanish Supercoupe), had not obtained its ticket, FIFA having initially limited the number of clubs per nation. Barça, aware of the prestige and potential financial benefits (up to 135 million euros for the participants), would therefore have tried to rush into the breach.
Unfortunately for the Cules, the call of Joan Laporta, probably addressed to Gianni Infantino or to his close collaborators, would not have had the expected effect. FIFA has finally decided to give the vacant place to another team in the Concacaf zone, in this case the Los Angeles FC (Lafc), winner of a dam against Club America. A Camouflet for Barça, which is therefore officially snubbed and forced to follow the competition at a distance, while he hoped to take advantage of the event to strengthen his presence on American soil. Instead, the club will be satisfied with a summer tour in Asia.
Barça Snobé, Infantino closes the door.
A club World Cup already discredited?
The absence of FC Barcelona, like that of Liverpool, champion of England, arouses many questions and regrets among the observers. How can a competition want to be the “club world” to deprive itself of two of the best European teams, reigning champions in major championships? Barça had known for almost a year that it would not participate, but this last minute attempt underlines the discomfort. For many, this situation, where the qualification criteria sometimes take precedence over the recent sporting merit, targets the credibility of this inaugural edition and raises questions for the future.
In the end, FC Barcelona and Joan Laporta stand out like the big losers in this episode. Not only does the club lack an opportunity to shine on the world scene and bail out its boxes, but this attempted repechage unsuccessful in its image a little more. The case highlights the limits and paradoxes of the qualification system for this new World Cup of clubs. A lesson to meditate for FIFA if she wants her flagship competition to really gain prestige and legitimacy in everyone's eyes.
