With FIFA moving its newly expanded Club World Cup to a four-year cycle in the hope of making it equivalent to its far more established international sister competition, the move has opened a gap for an annual competition.
In place of the old, annual Club World Cup, we now have the FIFA Intercontinental Cup taking place each year.
Beginning in 2024, the tournament is contested annually and features many of the same characteristics of the Club World Cup's former iteration, with a few tweaks to its schedule, hosting and competition components.
AllSportsPeople details everything you need to know.
CLUB WORLD CUP HQ: Highlights, news and more from Chelsea's 2025 triumph
What is the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup, officially known as the "Coupe Intercontinentale de la FIFA," has replaced the Club World Cup as the annual championship pitting each continent's title winners against each other.
With the Club World Cup moving to a four-year cycle, beginning with 2025's expanded format — one year before its international sister competition the FIFA World Cup — the world football governing body did not wish to lose its annual tournament that includes, among others, the UEFA Champions League holders and Copa Libertadores winners.
The Intercontinental Cup will pit all of the world's continental title winners from the previous calendar year against one another in a slightly reworked single-elimination tournament.
FIFA Intercontinental Cup format
In the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the six global continental champions from the previous calendar year will play through a single-elimination knockout tournament. This is slightly different from the old Club World Cup, which featured seven participants, as there will no longer be a club from the host nation.
Unlike the previous Club World Cup, where the CONMEBOL (South American) and UEFA (European) champions are given byes to the semifinals, the UEFA champion is immediately awarded a place in the Intercontinental Cup final, against the qualifier who emerges from the earlier rounds of the competition.
The competition will be formatted as follows:
Round 1:
- AFC Champions League winner (Asian) OR* CAF Champions League winner (African) vs. OFC Champions League winner (Oceanic)
Round 2:
- Round 1 winner vs. AFC Champions League winner OR* CAF Champions League winner
- CONCACAF Champions Cup winner (Northern American, Central American and Caribbean) vs. CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores winner
Playoff:
- Round 2 winner vs. Round 2 winner
Final:
- Playoff winner vs. UEFA Champions League winner
* The AFC Champions League winner and CAF Champions League winner will rotate Round 1 and Round 2 qualification on an annual basis.
MORE: Club World Cup 2025 in USA: Confirmed teams, format, schedule, dates
When is the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup?
The Intercontinental Cup took place in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar from September to December.
The final between Paris Saint-Germain and Flamengo was held in Al Rayyan on December 17, 2025. PSG won on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Congratulations to @PSG_inside on winning the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Nlaljl0KYq
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) December 17, 2025
2025 Intercontinental Cup fixtures, results
First Round:
| Date | Match | Result | Location |
| Sep. 14, 2025 | African-Asian-Pacific playoff | Pyramids 3-0 Auckland City | Cairo, Egypt |
Second Round:
| Date | Match | Result | Location |
| Sep. 23, 2025 | African-Asian Pacific Cup | Al Ahly 1-3 Pyramids | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Dec. 10, 2025 | Derby of the Americas | Cruz Azul 1-2 Flamengo | Al Rayyan, Qatar |
Playoff Round:
| Date | Match | Result | Location |
| Dec. 13, 2024 | Challenger Cup | Flamengo 2-0 Pyramids | Al Rayyan, Qatar |
Final:
| Date | Match | Result | Location |
| Dec. 17, 2025 | Intercontinental Cup final | Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Flamengo PSG won 2-1 on pens | Al Rayyan, Qatar |
Who hosts the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?
The earlier rounds of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup are hosted by one of the participants. The Round 1 match is hosted by the AFC or CAF participant.
As the competition progresses, the later rounds are held at a neutral venue. World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar have been the main hosts of the significant games in 2024 and 2025, with the final three matches being hosted in the Arab country.
What happened to the Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup was expanded and moved to a four-year cycle, to be held the summer before that cycle's World Cup.
Starting with the 2025 edition, the Club World Cup now features 32 clubs from all across the world battling for supremacy in a tournament that will feel similar in structure and execution as the original FIFA World Cup reserved for national teams.
The United States hosted the first revamped Club World Cup, a year prior to the 2026 World Cup where they will also serve as primary hosts alongside Canada and Mexico.
WORLD CUP NEWS:
- SN's expert 2026 World Cup predictions
- Ranking World Cup groups from hardest to easiest
- 10 World Cup teams with best chance to win
- Ranking 7 best matches of the World Cup