By Andrew Haruna | Sports Desk
In a stunning revision of football history, FIFA has officially reclassified all past Club World Cup winners—including giants like Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona—as “FIFA Intercontinental Champions”, stripping them of their previous title as “world champions.”
According to a report by The Daily Mail, the governing body has now formally recognized Chelsea FC as the first official FIFA Club World Cup winners under the competition’s newly expanded format.
The decision comes after Chelsea’s commanding 3–0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Club World Cup final last week. Led by Enzo Maresca, the Blues dominated the tournament, which featured 32 teams from all six football confederations in its new global structure.
A New Era in Global Club Football
FIFA’s latest move effectively resets the title of “world champions,” limiting the honor to clubs that win under the new, more competitive Club World Cup format.
This redefinition sidelines legendary achievements of clubs like Manchester United (2008), Liverpool (2019), and Real Madrid (multiple-time winners), who will now bear the title of “Intercontinental Champions” rather than world champions.
Chelsea, on the other hand, now stands alone as the only club officially recognized as world champions, marking a significant moment in football history.
Looking Ahead
The expanded Club World Cup will return in 2029, with clubs like PSG, Pyramids FC (Egypt), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), and Cruz Azul (Mexico) already qualified after winning their respective continental championships.