What is the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup is the annual club football tournament organized by FIFA, featuring the reigning club champions from all six confederations and played in a knockout format.
(It is not to be confused with the Club World Cup which has 32 teams and is played every 4 years, the next edition in 2029.)
This new format was created in 2024.
Which teams are in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?
The reigning club champions from all six confederations participate:
- UEFA – Union of European Football Associations
- AFC – Asian Football Confederation
- OFC – Oceania Football Confederation
- CAF – Confederation of African Football
- CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football
- CONMEBOL – Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (South America)
See which teams are in the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup (coming soon)
FIFA Intercontinental Cup Format
How exactly does the FIFA Intercontinental Cup work?
The competition has four rounds with five matches in total.
If a match is tied after normal playing time, extra time is played. If the match is still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out is held to determine the winner.
Round 1 – African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-Off
The Pacific Champion (OFC) plays against either the Asian Champion (AFC) or the African Champion (CAF). The AFC and CAF champions alternate every year. One year they are in the Round 1 play-off, the next year directly in Round 2. The following year in the Round 1 play-off again.
- 2026: OFC Champion (Auckland FC) vs AFC Champion (Al-Ahli Saudi FC)
- 2027: OFC Champion vs CAF Champion
- 2028: OFC Champion vs AFC Champion
- 2029: OFC Champion vs CAF Champion etc.
This match is hosted by the club from the higher-ranked country in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings.
The winner of Round 1 goes on to the Round 2 African-Asian-Pacific Cup match.
Round 2 – African-Asian-Pacific Cup & Derby of the Americas
African-Asian-Pacific Cup
The winner of the first-round play-off goes on to play against the Asian Champion (AFC) or the African Champion (CAF). The AFC and CAF champions alternate every year. One year they are directly in Round 2, the next year in the Round 1 play-off. The following year directly in Round 2 again.
- 2026: Round 1 Play-Off Winner vs CAF Champion (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)
- 2027: Round 1 Play-Off Winner vs AFC Champion
- 2028: Round 1 Play-Off Winner vs CAF Champion
- 2029: Round 1 Play-Off Winner vs AFC Champion etc.
This match is hosted by the club from the higher-ranked country in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings.
FIFA Derby of the Americas
In the same round, and on the other side of the planet, we have the FIFA Derby of the Americas where the CONMEBOL Champion (South America) plays against the CONCACAF Champion (North/Central America & Caribbean)
This derby match is played at a neutral venue.
Round 3 – Challenger Cup
In this round, the winner of the African-Asian-Pacific Cup (from round 2) play against the winner of the Derby of the Americas (from round 2) at a neutral venue.
The winner of this match will go on the FIFA Intercontinental Cup FINAL.
Round 4 – FIFA Intercontinental Cup FINAL
The winner of the Challenger Cup (from Round 3) will play against the champion of UEFA (Europe).
Yes, the European team, which won the UEFA Champions League, gets a direct pass into the final.
For example: Paris Saint-Germain was the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League winner so entered directly into the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup FINAL.
While the other finalist, Flamengo (Brazil) had to win the Derby of the Americas against Cruz Azul (Mexico) and then win a second match in the Challenger Cup against Pyramids FC (Egypt) in order to play in the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup FINAL.
FIFA Intercontinental Cup Winners
The winners of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup receive a gold trophy that has a plaque on its base with the name of the winning club and the year they won it. That means there is a new trophy made every year that the club gets to keep.
The winning club is also entitled to wear the FIFA Champions Badge on its first-team kit up until the final of the next FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Past FIFA Intercontinental Cup Finals & Winners
2026 🏆 To Be Decided
FINAL: Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs. Challenger Cup Winner
2025 🏆 Paris Saint-Germain 🇫🇷
FINAL: Paris Saint-Germain (France) 1-1 Flamengo (Brazil)
⚽️ 38’ Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
⚽️ 62’ (Penalty) Jorginho (Flamengo)
(1-1 at the end of extra time)
Penalties: Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Flamengo
2024 🏆 Real Madrid 🇪🇸
FINAL: Real Madrid (Spain) 3-0 Pachuca (Mexico)
⚽️ 37’ Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
⚽️ 53’ Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
⚽️ 84’ (Penalty) Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
What is the difference between the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the Intercontinental Cup?
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup was first held in 2024 featuring the reigning club champions of each of the six FIFA confederations.
The Intercontinental Cup was held between 1960 and 2004 and was only between a team from Europe against a team from South America. It was also known as the European/South American Cup.
Since 2017, past Intercontinental Cup winners have been recognised by FIFA as club world champions.
