Why Will FIFA Club World Cup Winners Wear a Special Badge?

The winners of the newly expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be allowed to play with a badge celebrating their achievement until it takes place again in 2029. The participant clubs are usually required to wear the special golden badge on their jerseys for 12 months, but this move to the new format has changed the initial policy.

Initially, FIFA Club World Cup used to be held annually every year in December, with the last edition being held in 2023. This explains why Manchester City have been wearing the gold crest in the middle of their jerseys since they won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023. Real Madrid did win the Intercontinental Cup last year in December, even though the Intercontinental Cup is the old FIFA Club World Cup with its old format, but with a new name. Hence, Manchester City have been wearing it for quite some time and will continue to do so until the 2025 edition begins in June in the United States.

Why will the Winner get to wear the Special Golden Badge for four years?

The old format of the FIFA Club World Cup only featured seven teams however, the new format, which will kick off from June 14, 2025, will consist of 32 teams and will be held every four years. The old format in itself was less valuable due to lesser competition and an obvious strong candidate amidst the seven teams. It comprised of winners of the UEFA Champions League who would face off against continental champions from Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North America (CONCACAF), South America (CONMEBOL), and Oceania (OFC).

The 2025 edition and onwards has become more valuable due to increased competition from the participation of top European clubs, higher prize money, and the fact that it will be held every four years. The main factor here for each club to take the competition more seriously is the fact that more European clubs will contend for it making it a competition which the elite will seek out to win. Out of the 32 teams present, Europe has 12 clubs, and the rest of the slots are given to those teams that perform well over the last four seasons of the UCL, including the current season. On this basis, the winners of the UCL over the last three seasons, namely Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Chelsea, will be joining the best-performing sides in the UCL over the last four seasons, namely Paris-Saint Germain, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. These teams are some of the obvious candidates to win the tournament amidst competition from other teams from across the world.

Hence, the winner of the 2025 FIFA CWC and onwards will get to wear a golden badge on their jersey up until the next edition takes place after four years. Have a look at FIFA's official statement: