OFC will be represented at the new FIFA World Club Cup format, which will begin in 2025.
Clubs from all six of FIFA’s member confederations are assured of participating in the inaugural expanded 2025 tournament after the access blueprint was unanimously agreed upon by the FIFA Council in Rwanda on Tuesday.
The initial decision to revise the format of the competition to a 32-team tournament that takes place every four years was taken by the FIFA Council in December 2022, and after meeting in advance of the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, the body has now laid out how the field will be determined for the 2025 tournament.
There will be a 32-strong field – AFC: 4, CAF: 4, CONCACAF: 4, OFC: 1, South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL): 6, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA): 12, Host country: 1.
Qualifications vary across the different confederations, and OFCs representative will be determined on results over the next two years.
The current FIFA Club World Cup format will have its last edition later this year, with the tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia in December.
The winner of the OFC Champions League tournament to be played in Vanuatu in May (14th-27th) will head to Saudi Arabia.
Auckland City FC was OFC’s representative at the last FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, and have attended the tournament a record 10 times.