The FIFA Club World Cup, an international soccer competition organized by FIFA, crowns the world's top club team.
Launched in 2000 as the FIFA Club World Championship, it paused from 2001 to 2004 due to issues, including the collapse of FIFA's marketing partner, International Sport and Leisure.
Revived in 2005, it was renamed the FIFA Club World Cup in 2006.
The tournament has evolved, with a significant expansion to a 32-team format starting in 2025, hosted in the United States.
Below is a comprehensive list of all FIFA Club World Cup champions by year, highlighting the most successful clubs and key moments, based on reliable sources.
Complete List of FIFA Club World Cup Winners by Year
2000: Corinthians (Brazil)
In the inaugural edition hosted in Brazil, Corinthians defeated Vasco da Gama in an all-Brazilian final at the Maracanã Stadium. The match ended 0–0 after extra time, with Corinthians winning 4–3 on penalties, drawing a record 73,000 fans—the highest attended final in the competition's history.2001–2004: No tournament held
The competition was paused due to financial difficulties, primarily the collapse of FIFA's marketing partner.2005: São Paulo (Brazil)
São Paulo upset UEFA Champions League winners Liverpool 1–0 in the final, with Mineiro scoring the decisive goal. Goalkeeper Rogério Ceni’s outstanding saves against Steven Gerrard and others marked a historic moment for Brazilian clubs.2006: Internacional (Brazil)
Internacional stunned Barcelona, featuring stars like Ronaldinho and Xavi, with a 1–0 victory in Japan. Adriano Gabiru’s late goal secured the title for the Brazilian underdogs.2007: AC Milan (Italy)
AC Milan broke Brazilian dominance, defeating Boca Juniors (Argentina) 4–2 in a high-scoring final that saw two players sent off, including Milan’s Kakha Kaladze. The match, held in Yokohama, was the highest-scoring Club World Cup final with six goals.2008: Manchester United (England)
Manchester United became the second European club to win, defeating LDU Quito (Ecuador) 1–0 in the final after a 5–3 semi-final win over Gamba Osaka.2009: Barcelona (Spain)
Barcelona, led by Pep Guardiola, won their first Club World Cup, defeating Estudiantes (Argentina) 2–1 in extra time, with Lionel Messi scoring the decisive goal.2010: Inter Milan (Italy)
Inter Milan beat TP Mazembe (DR Congo) 3–0, marking the first time a non-European, non-South American club reached the final. Mazembe had earlier upset Internacional 2–0 in the semi-finals.2011: Barcelona (Spain)
Barcelona delivered a dominant 4–0 win over Santos (Brazil) in the final, the largest winning margin in Club World Cup history, matched only in 2023. Lionel Messi and the "tiki-taka" style shone brightly.2012: Corinthians (Brazil)
Corinthians claimed their second title, defeating Chelsea (England) 1–0 in Japan. Paolo Guerrero’s goal ended European dominance, bringing the trophy back to Brazil.2013: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Bayern Munich, under Pep Guardiola, won 2–0 against Raja Casablanca (Morocco), securing their first Club World Cup title.2014: Real Madrid (Spain)
Real Madrid began their dominant run, winning 2–0 against San Lorenzo (Argentina) for their first of five titles.2015: Barcelona (Spain)
Barcelona, led by Luis Enrique, won their third title, defeating River Plate (Argentina) 3–0, with goals from Messi and Luis Suárez.2016: Real Madrid (Spain)
Real Madrid claimed their second title, beating Kashima Antlers (Japan) 4–2 in extra time, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick.2017: Real Madrid (Spain)
Real Madrid defended their title, defeating Grêmio (Brazil) 1–0, becoming the first club to win consecutive Club World Cups.2018: Real Madrid (Spain)
Real Madrid completed a three-peat, beating Al Ain (UAE) 4–1, solidifying their status as the most successful club in the competition’s history.2019: Liverpool (England)
Liverpool won their first Club World Cup, defeating Flamengo (Brazil) 1–0 in extra time, with Roberto Firmino scoring the winner.2020: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Bayern Munich secured their second title, defeating Tigres UANL (Mexico) 1–0, completing a sextuple of trophies in the 2020 season.2021: Chelsea (England)
Chelsea won their first Club World Cup, beating Palmeiras (Brazil) 2–1 in extra time, with Kai Havertz scoring the decisive penalty.2022: Real Madrid (Spain)
Real Madrid claimed their fifth title, defeating Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 5–3 in a high-scoring final, further cementing their dominance.2023: Manchester City (England)
Manchester City won their first Club World Cup, defeating Fluminense (Brazil) 4–0 in Jeddah, matching the largest winning margin in a final.2024: No tournament held
The competition paused to prepare for the expanded 32-team format in 2025.
Most Successful Clubs
Real Madrid (Spain): 5 titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)
Real Madrid is the most successful club, winning five titles and maintaining an unbeaten streak of 12 matches in the competition’s previous format. They are the only team to defend their title, doing so twice (2016–2018).Barcelona (Spain): 3 titles (2009, 2011, 2015)
Barcelona’s three titles, all under different managers, include the record-equaling largest final win in 2011.Corinthians (Brazil) and Bayern Munich (Germany): 2 titles each
Corinthians (2000, 2012) and Bayern Munich (2013, 2020) are the only other clubs with multiple wins.Single-title winners: Manchester City (2023), Chelsea (2021), Liverpool (2019), Inter Milan (2010), Manchester United (2008), AC Milan (2007), Internacional (2006), São Paulo (2005).
Titles by Country
Spain: 8 titles (Real Madrid 5, Barcelona 3)
Brazil: 4 titles (Corinthians 2, São Paulo 1, Internacional 1)
England: 4 titles (Manchester City 1, Chelsea 1, Liverpool 1, Manchester United 1)
Italy: 2 titles (AC Milan 1, Inter Milan 1)
Germany: 2 titles (Bayern Munich 2)
European clubs have dominated, winning 16 of the 20 tournaments, with Brazil securing the remaining four.
Notable Records
Most successful manager: Pep Guardiola, with four titles (Barcelona 2009, 2011; Bayern Munich 2013; Manchester City 2023).
Most titles by a player: Toni Kroos, with six titles (Bayern Munich 2013, Real Madrid 2014, 2016–2018, 2022).
Top goal scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo, with seven goals across his appearances with Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Largest winning margin: Barcelona (2011) and Manchester City (2023), both 4–0 in the final.
Key Moments
2000: The all-Brazilian final remains the only one featuring two clubs from the same nation.
2005: São Paulo’s upset over Liverpool showcased the potential for non-European clubs to compete.
2011: Barcelona’s 4–0 thrashing of Santos highlighted their "tiki-taka" dominance.
2012: Corinthians’ victory over Chelsea marked a return of Brazilian success.
2016–2018: Real Madrid’s three-peat solidified their legacy as the competition’s most dominant club.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, running from June 14 to July 13 in the United States, features a revamped 32-team format, including giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, who aims for a fourth title.
With 12 European teams, 6 from South America, and others from Asia, Africa, North America, and Oceania, the tournament promises intense competition.
The FIFA Club World Cup continues to evolve, showcasing the best of global club soccer while sparking debate over its expanded format and scheduling.
As the 2025 edition approaches, the legacy of past champions sets the stage for new historic moments.