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The FIFA Club World Cup first started in 2000 and has since been hosted by Japan, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Qatar. The inaugural edition of the competition was won by Brazilian club Corinthians.
Despite having played in different parts of the world, the tournament hasn't received enough recognition to date.
Seven teams are participating in the current format of the competition. The participants are winners of the year's CAF Champions League (Africa), AFC Champions League (Asia), CONCACAF Champions League (North America), Copa Libertadores (South America), OFC Champions League (Oceania) and UEFA Champions League (Europe).
The FIFA Club World Cup is dominated by European teams
So far, European teams have been brutally effective in the tournament and have won it 14 times, including the last nine versions. South American clubs have won the FIFA Club World Cup four times.
Teams from the remaining four federations are yet to win the competition. With European superpowers involved every year, it is a daunting task for clubs of any other federation to stand a chance of winning. Without further ado, let's take a look at the top clubs who have already had the chance to win this tournament at least once.
Honorable Mentions: Manchester United, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Internacional, Sao Paulo
#5 Chelsea & Liverpool
Chelsea are the most recently crowned champions of the FIFA Club World Cup. They beat Al Hilal in the semi-finals and Palmeiras in the finals to claim victory at the tournament.
It has been a year to remember for the Blues and so was the case for Liverpool in 2019. Having won the UEFA Champions League in the 2018-19 season, the Reds won the Club World Cup after beating Monterrey in the semi-finals and Flamengo in the finals. Both clubs have won the tournament only once despite two appearances each.
#4 Bayern Munich
The Bavarian club have won the FIFA Club World Cup twice. Bayern Munich first won in 2013 when they beat Guangzhou Evergrande in the semi-finals and Raja Casablanca in the final. It all came after the German club won the Treble in the 2012-13 season.
Their second win of the tournament came in 2020 when they beat Al Ahly in the semi-finals and the Tigres in the finals. By doing so, Bayern Munich became only the second European team to win all six titles in a calendar year.
#3 Corinthians
The FIFA Club World Cup was first played in Brazil in 2000. The first edition of the tournament was won by Corinthians, the only time the competition was won by a club from the hosting country.
Back then, the Club World Cup was divided into two groups with four teams in each of them. The top teams in each group advanced to the finals, which in this case was Corinthians and Vasco da Gama, who also hailed from Brazil.
After an intense penalty shootout, Corinthians registered their first-ever victory in the tournament. The Brazilian club won it for the second time in 2012 when they beat Al Ahly in the semi-finals and Chelsea in the finals.
#2 Barcelona
Barcelona have been a very successful team, especially in the 21st century. They won their first FIFA Club World Cup in 2009. Having won a historic treble in the 2008-09 season, the Catalan club won the tournament by beating Mexican club Atlante and Estudiantes.
In the process, they became the first European team ever to win all six trophies in a calendar year. Their second triumph came in 2011 when they beat Al-Sadd and FC Santos to win the tournament.
Their third victory came in 2015 after once again winning the treble in the 2014-15 season. This time around, the Spanish side beat Guangzhou Evergrande and River Plate to claim the title for the third time.
Considering the predicament they now find themselves in, it feels as if Barcelona are a long way away from reaching another Club World Cup.
#1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid have been a brutal force in Europe, having won the UEFA Champions League a record 13 times. They first won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2014 by beating Cruz Azul and San Lorenzo.
Their second triumph came in 2016 in Japan when they defeated Club America and Kashima Antlers. Real Madrid went on to win the tournament in 2017 too as they beat Al-Jazira and Gremio narrowly to clinch their third Club World Cup title.
Los Blancos secured a hat-trick of wins in the history of the tournament by registering a victory in the 2018 edition. This time around, they beat Kashima Antlers and Al-Ain to mark their fourth triumph. To date, Real Madrid have won the competition more times than any other club.
