A Champions League round of 16 exit for RB Leipzig at Real Madrid this Wednesday (21:00/DAZN) would finally help Borussia Dortmund secure a place at the 2025 Club World Cup. If the Saxons fail to progress from the first leg of their 0:1 draw with the Spanish record champions, BVB would certainly be the second German club, alongside FC Bayern, to take part in the tournament in the USA from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
19 teams have already qualified for the Club World Cup, which has been expanded to 32 teams, including FC Bayern Munich. 13 teams secured their ticket by winning their continent's Champions League format between 2021 and 2024. A further six are in through their confederation's four-year ranking.
Leipzig (61 points) are currently seven points behind BVB (68), who play their second leg of the round of 16 in the top flight at home to Eindhoven a week later and can hope to progress to the next round after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. A win earns two points, a draw one. A further point is awarded for each further round reached in the knockout phase. As Champions League winners, Leipzig would automatically be in the USA, with a maximum of 13 points still possible if they lose the final.
Twelve places are available to UEFA, four of which are still open. One of them goes to the winner of this year's premier league. The other clubs reach the World Cup via the ranking list. At the moment, the open places would go to Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, Juventus Turin and Salzburg. A maximum of two clubs per country are allowed to take part.
"We find the format exciting. It would be exciting to be part of the Club World Cup, and then in the country where the World Cup will be played a year later," commented BVB Head of Marketing Carsten Cramer. The distribution of bonuses is not yet official.
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