Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the current UEFA Champions League titleholders, are officially set to participate in the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup in 2025. The prestigious tournament will see the European champions play their first match in Doha, Qatar, on December 17.
This confirmation comes from a FIFA announcement made on September 28. While PSG’s ultimate opponent in the final has yet to be determined, the qualifying rounds for the tournament, dubbed the ‘Challenge Cup,’ are currently in progress.
The Challenge Cup structure involves various continental champions vying for a spot against the European and South American representatives. Early results from these qualifying stages include a significant match involving Auckland City, the champions of the OFC Champions League, which saw a 3-0 outcome. In another key encounter, Egypt’s Al Ahly, representing the CAF Champions League, secured a 3-1 victory over the AFC Champions League Elite representative.
The path to face Paris Saint-Germain is split, with the other side of the bracket featuring the winner of the Concacaf Champions Cup, such as Mexico’s Cruz Azul, and the eventual champion of the Copa Libertadores 2025 from South America. The Copa Libertadores 2025 tournament is currently in its semi-final stages, with notable matchups including Palmeiras against an Ecuadorian club, and Flamengo of Brazil facing Argentina’s Racing Club. The Copa Libertadores champion is scheduled to be crowned on November 29, which will be the final day of that competition.
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup marks a significant return to a historical format. From 1960 to 2004, the original Intercontinental Cup was exclusively contested between the European and South American champions. In 2005, FIFA expanded its club competition with the introduction of the FIFA Club World Cup, aiming to include champions from all continents. However, following the creation of an expanded, 32-club FIFA Club World Cup set for 2025 – where Chelsea were noted as a past champion – FIFA decided to re-establish an annual ‘Intercontinental Cup.’ This ensures that the UEFA Champions League winner will continue to play in an annual global club competition, distinct from the larger, quadrennial Club World Cup.
