FIFA · Global Layer
Club World Cup
In US-sports termsThe actual world championship of clubs — the best team from every continent, once every four years. There is nothing above this.
What it is
The layer above UEFA. Two things live here: the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup every four years (first edition: USA 2025, Chelsea won it), and the annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup, where the Champions League winner faces the other continents' champions.
How you get in
For European clubs: win (or rank highly in) the Champions League. Continental performance over a four-year window fills the CWC's European slots.
What it feeds
World champion status. The endgame — nothing above this.
Every other confederation (Concacaf included — hey, look at that word again) feeds its own champion into this same layer via its own version of the Champions League.
See it on the England map →See it on the Spain map →See it on the Germany map →See it on the Italy map →See it on the France map →See it on the USA map →See it on the Mexico map →See it on the Brazil map →See it on the Argentina map →See it on the UEFA map →See it on the Concacaf map →See it on the CONMEBOL map →See it on the AFC map →See it on the CAF map →See it on the OFC map →Translate the jargon →