Despite their dominant 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the recent Club World Cup final, Chelsea will not automatically qualify for the 2029 edition of the tournament. Surprisingly, PSG, the team they defeated, has already secured their place in the next championship.
The Blues delivered a commanding performance at the MetLife Stadium in the United States, with Cole Palmer scoring twice and summer signing Joao Pedro adding a third goal to seal the win. However, their triumph did not guarantee them a spot in the 2029 Club World Cup, as the tournament's qualification system operates differently.
The 2029 edition will feature 32 teams, with slots allocated across various continental federations. UEFA, Europe's governing body, is granted 12 spots, while CONMEBOL (South America), AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North America), and OFC (Oceania) receive six, four, four, four, and one spot respectively. Additionally, the host nation will secure an automatic place. However, there is no guaranteed entry for the reigning champions, meaning Chelsea must qualify through UEFA's rankings.
PSG, despite their loss to Chelsea, have already secured their place as one of the four Champions League winners leading up to the 2029 tournament. The remaining UEFA spots will be filled based on rankings, and Chelsea currently sit 14th, leaving them with work to do to climb into the top 12.
Despite missing out on automatic qualification, Chelsea will return home with more than just the trophy. The club has reportedly earned a staggering £97 million from their participation in the tournament, a significant financial boost for the Premier League giants.
As the Blues aim to secure their place in the 2029 Club World Cup, they will need to focus on improving their UEFA ranking or clinching future Champions League titles to guarantee their spot in the prestigious competition.
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