A file photo of Real Madrid players and coaches celebrating after winning the Club World Cup.

LONDON, July 24: FIFA is reportedly considering stripping several clubs — including record-holder Real Madrid — of the official “World Champion” title they earned under the previous Club World Cup format.

According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, FIFA has decided to recognize Chelsea, the winner of the revamped 2025 Club World Cup after a 4-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain, as the first official world champion in club football history. This marks a significant shift from past editions of the tournament, which had been held annually since 2005.

Under the new classification, past winners such as Manchester United (2008), Liverpool (2019), and Manchester City (2023) would no longer be labeled world champions. Instead, they will be referred to as "FIFA Intercontinental Champions", a separate title that should not be confused with the historic Intercontinental Cup, which once matched Europe's and South America's champions.

The new designation would also apply to eight other clubs, notably Real Madrid, which has lifted the trophy a record five times, as well as Barcelona (3 titles), Bayern Munich, Corinthians (2 titles each), and others like São Paulo (2005), Internacional (2006), AC Milan (2007), and Inter Milan (2010).

If the move is finalized, it would redefine the legacy of some of the most successful clubs in international football history.