FIFA has relaunched the Club World Cup this summer with an expanded 32-team tournament in the United States.
Football’s governing body has made the tournament bigger than ever before, with clubs from confederations across the planet competing for the trophy. There have been 12 different winners of the Club World Cup since it’s introduction in 2000 but only four sides have won the trophy more than once.
The most successful teams in Club World Cup history
Bayern Munich – 2 (2013 and 2020)
Bayern Munich are bidding for a third title this summer and opened their campaign with a record-breaking 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City. The German giants have won both previous visits to the Club World Cup and have failed to concede a goal in five games.
In 2013, goals from Thiago Alcantara and Dante secured a 2-0 win over Morocco’s Raja Casablanca in the decider. Bayern won the Club World Cup a second time in 2020, as Benjamin Pavard’s goal sealed a 1-0 success over Mexican side Tigres UANL.
Corinthians – 2 (2000 and 2012)
Corinthians are one of just three South American teams to win the trophy and the only team from the continent to win multiple Club World Cup titles. The Brazilian side won the inaugural edition in 2000, topping a group containing Real Madrid to meet compatriots Vasco da Gama in the final. After a goalless draw, Corinthians took the trophy on penalties.
Over a decade later, Corinthians beat Chelsea in the 2012 final. Paolo Guerrero scored the decisive goal to beat the newly-crowned European champions in Yokohama.
OLHA O GOL, OLHA O GOL! 🗣️
Da cabeça de Guerrero saiu o gol que nos deu o segundo título mundial de nossa história. Viva ao dia 16 de dezembro! 💪🏿🖤
📹 TV Globo#BiMundial9anos#VaiCorinthians pic.twitter.com/69mnYey9En
— Corinthians (@Corinthians) December 16, 2021
Barcelona – 3 (2009, 2011, 2015)
Barcelona lost to Internacional in their first-ever Club World Cup final in 2006, but have since won the competition on three occasions.
The Spanish side required an 89th-minute Pedro equaliser to force extra time against Estudiantes in 2009, before Lionel Messi scored the winner in the added period. Two years later, Santos were swatted aside in a 4-0 rout with Messi on target twice. The Argentine is the only player to win the tournament’s Golden Ball twice.
Messi scored again in the 2015 final, with Luis Suarez also on target twice in a 3-0 win over River Plate.
Real Madrid – 5 (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)
Real Madrid hold the record with five Club World Cup wins. The Spanish side are record 15-time European champions and lifted the inter-continental competition five times during a period of Champions League dominance.
Los Blancos have been involved in arguably the best-ever finals, beating Kashima Antlers 4-2 after extra time in 2016 and seeing off Saudi side Al-Hilal 5-3 in 2022.
When @RealMadrid faced Al Hilal in 2023… 🥵#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/HzJgbJcDUd
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 6, 2024
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