Barcelona risk missing out on a 2025 Club World Cup spot following Atletico Madrid's win against Inter Milan in the Champions League last 16.
Diego Simeone's side are currently ahead of Barca in the UEFA four-year ranking. There are only two slots for Spanish clubs and one of them is given to Real Madrid for their Champions League win of 2021/22.
For Barca to get ahead of Atletico, they have to win as many remaining Champions League games as possible while Atleti, in turn, should get eliminated asap.
Another option to secure a Club World Cup spot is simply to win the Champions League.
Why is this competition important for Barcelona? Teams receive €50m each for entering the tournament plus additional bonuses for winning games. Given Barca's delicate financial situation, it's important to leap at such chances to gain some extra income.
The 2025 Club World Cup will take place from June 15 to July 13 next year. This will be the first competition under an expanded format with 32 teams.
