FIFA denies Lionel Messi's reunion with FC Barcelona in Club World Cup

FC Barcelona's most iconic player of all time, Lionel Messi, reunion with his favourite club seems highly unlikely in 2025. The Catalan giants are yet to be invited to the FIFA World Cup following the debacle of the Mexican team, Club Leon. 

Barçelona has been in fine form this season. The Catalans are vying for a treble this season, with the club being active in all club competitions across Europe.

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Barcelona will not get any spot in FIFA Club World Cup 

Earlier, FIFA had removed the Mexican football team Club Leon for violating the rules of the competition. Club Leon got removed for having multiple owners. Following this build-up, it was speculated that FIFA would send an invitation to Barcelona to fill up the vacant spot in the competition.

The teams from Europe have been chosen based on their performances in European competitions since 2021, excluding results from the current season, as well as their cumulative coefficient over the past three seasons. The world governing body decided not to extend an invitation to Barcelona, given that the club was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League group stages in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons and did not achieve notable success in the Europa League either.

The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has already announced the likely teams who may take the vacant slot following the expulsion of Club Leon. The empty spot will be picked up by either Club America or Los Angeles FC following the conclusion of their play-off fixture.

However, an official schedule for the speculated play-off tie is yet to be announced. The dates may come after Leon's final hearing, which is on May 6th. The newly revamped Club World Cup is set to begin on June 14.

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