The FIFA Intercontinental Cup is an annual club football competition organised by FIFA, bringing together the reigning champions from all six continental confederations.
The modern version of the tournament began in 2024 as a direct successor to the former FIFA Club World Cup (2000–2023), following the expansion of that competition into a larger, quadrennial event.
The Intercontinental Cup continues the tradition of crowning an annual “world club champion,” but with a fresh structure and broader global reach.
Before the current format, a similarly named “Intercontinental Cup” (1960–2004) was held jointly by UEFA and CONMEBOL, but that competition involved only the European and South American champions.
Real Madrid is the current champion of the Intercontinental Cup, winning by 3-0 over Pachuca.
What is the format of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup tournament is designed as a knockout competition involving six teams – the winners of the continental club championships from:
- UEFA (Europe)
- CONMEBOL (South America)
- CONCACAF (North, Central America, and the Caribbean)
- AFC (Asia)
- CAF (Africa)
- OFC (Oceania)
Key structure details
- First Round: The OFC champion faces either the AFC or CAF champion on a rotating basis.
- Second Round: The first-round winner faces the other AFC/CAF champion; CONMEBOL and CONCACAF winners meet in the “Derby of the Americas.”
- Play-off: Winners from the two second-round matches face off in the “Challenger Cup.”
- Final: The Challenger Cup winner meets the UEFA champion for the Intercontinental Cup title, usually at a neutral venue.
FIFA Intercontinental Cup matches follow a single-elimination format. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, the game goes into extra time, and if necessary, penalties decide the winner.
All-time Results
| Year | Teams | Score | Venue | Host | Participated Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Real Madrid vs Pachuca | 3–0 | Lusail Stadium, Qatar | Qatar | Real Madrid (Spain) Pachuca (Mexico) Al Ahly (Egypt) Al Ain (UAE) Auckland City (New Zealand) Botafogo (Brazil) |
| 2025 | PSG vs Challenger Cup winner | – | – | – | PSG (UEFA) Pyramids (CAF) Cruz Azul (CONCACAF) Al-Ahli (CAF), Auckland City (OFC) |
FIFA Intercontinental Cup Award winners
Teams winning the Intercontinental Cup receive the tournament trophy (a gold globe atop six pillars) and the FIFA Champions Badge to wear on their kits for the following season.
| Year | Player | Adidas Silver Ball | Adidas Bronze Ball |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) | Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) | Elías Montiel (Pachuca) |
| 2025 |
Trophy Design
- Main Trophy: Circular base, six pillars supporting a gold football globe, with a plaque showing year and competition name.
- Round Trophies: Smaller, silver versions for earlier rounds, with different accent colours and a globe top.
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup is now the premier annual club competition for crowning a global champion.
While the expanded FIFA Club World Cup is more prestigious and held every four years, the Intercontinental Cup holds immense value for clubs competing as champions of their confederation.
