“Chelsea are excited to participate in the Club World Cup”

Chelsea FC are excited to be part of the new version of the FIFA Club World Cup™according to John Terry. The Blues ambassador and former England captain says the tournament will bring benefits to European clubs, players and fans.

Held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, this new major FIFA competition marks the beginning of a new era for football with the largest, most inclusive and meritocratic club competition in the world.

The new format will see Chelsea compete for the world championship title as one of the world’s top 32 club teams, a title Terry says every club will be determined to win.

“I’m happy that Chelsea FC is here and part of this event,” Terry said at the event. FIFAe Next Gen™ in August in Liverpool. “As a football club, we’re delighted to be there. We’re going to bring our best players, our best team, and give our best, because that’s what the fans want to see.

“Winning your league or the Champions League is great, but the FIFA Club World Cup is a big test against everyone, with teams from different countries, different nationalities and different players.”

“I would have loved to win it and add it to my collection. Unfortunately, I’m a bit too old now – I missed that opportunity, but it’s always great to see so many great teams competing.”

Terry had a storied club career, winning 17 domestic and continental titles with the London club over a 19-year spell, becoming one of the most highly regarded footballers in the world. In fact, his club career was so successful that he only missed out on two possible trophies available to English footballers at the time: the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Terry was part of the Chelsea team that qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2012™but was unable to take part in the tournament due to a knee ligament injury – a missed opportunity that the former centre-back still regrets today.

“I missed out on the opportunity as a player through injury, and I remember watching him at Chelsea training ground on the massage table. It’s one of those moments I’ll never forget, thinking ‘this is probably my only chance,’ and it was. It still haunts me.”

“You get one chance in these big competitions, two if you’re lucky – if you’re Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi you’re lucky enough to do it a few times – but for a normal player those chances don’t come around very often, and I think it’s important to take those opportunities.”

Chelsea have qualified for the new version of the FIFA Club World Cup as winners of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League, with the 2025 edition marking the teams’ third appearance. Blues to this tournament, and the first under this new expanded format.

Runners-up in 2012 after a 1-0 defeat to Corinthians in the final, Chelsea redeemed themselves by beating Palmeiras 2-1 (after extra time) to clinch the world title in 2021. Romelu Lukaku and Kai Havertz scored that day.

Although he missed the 2012 edition, Terry was present as a FIFA and Chelsea ambassador in 2021 and was able to see first-hand how much the trophy meant to the players.

“As a player, I’ve been asked several times ‘Does the FIFA Club World Cup really matter to you?’. Absolutely, and as a football club we’ll be ready to go out there and try to win it.”

“There are some really good teams out there and from a players’ point of view, 100 per cent it counts. So we’re really excited to be part of this event and for Chelsea it’s an opportunity to win another trophy.”

As well as the prestige of the tournament and the chance to be crowned world champion, Terry believes the tournament is a perfect platform for players to test themselves against different styles and opponents – something that coaches and fans will also appreciate.

“You will see different teams playing with different formations. The tournament will be a different test against different coaches and teams from different parts of the world who see the game differently.”

“It’s really good to test yourself because it can get a bit monotonous in the Premier League – you know what you’re playing against, you do your research, you know the players like the back of your hand. This tournament is a bit like an open book. So it’s exciting for everyone to watch these games as well.”