Why won't the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup have a third-place match?

The two teams eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will return home instead of playing in the third-place match as in previous tournaments.

Real Madrid will not play in the third-place match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup - Photo: REUTERS

In each of the previous 20 editions of the FIFA Club World Cup, a third-place play-off was held. However, in this year's first edition of the expanded 32-team tournament, FIFA has decided to scrap the third-place play-off.

In an official statement, FIFA explained that the decision was made to "provide flexibility for clubs not in the final".

"For the first global edition of this prestigious tournament, FIFA will not hold a third-place play-off to ensure that clubs and players who do not reach the final can return home quickly," FIFA said.

The decision is seen as sensible, especially when FIFA considers the criticism that comes with expanding the tournament. Clubs certainly don't want to stay in the US longer just to play in the third-place match.

That really helps the teams because Fluminense are still in the final stages of the domestic season in Brazil, while Real Madrid need more time to rest and prepare for the new season.

In fact, in many tournaments, the third-place match has been abandoned because the teams have lost their fighting spirit after failing to reach the final. Therefore, the professional quality of the third-place match is often not high.

Organizing such matches only costs more money and time but is ineffective.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-fifa-club-world-cup-2025-khong-co-tran-tranh-hang-ba-20250709170029592.htm