Columbus Crew’s Path to the 2025 Club World Cup: A Tough Decision for MLS

In the world of soccer, qualification for prestigious tournaments often requires navigating a complex web of competitions and rankings. For the Columbus Crew, the path to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup could be equally challenging and exhilarating, drawing inspiration from past scenarios in CONCACAF’s history.

Back in 2015, the U.S. and Mexico faced off in a high-stakes, one-off match to determine who would represent the region at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The U.S. had won the 2013 Gold Cup, and Mexico had claimed victory in 2015. With both nations holding a claim to the spot, CONCACAF organized a single playoff game—dubbed the Concacaf Cup—where Mexico ultimately triumphed and secured their place in the Confederations Cup. This match provided a unique solution to the problem of having two champions vying for one spot.

Fast forward to 2024, and the Columbus Crew find themselves in a similarly enviable yet uncertain position. Fresh off a triumphant 2023 season where they captured both the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup, the Crew now sit atop the Concacaf rankings, a testament to their recent dominance. As they prepare to contest the Campeones Cup in September, the stakes are high, with the ultimate prize being a spot in the 2025 Club World Cup.

However, the road to qualification is not without potential obstacles. The simplest and most straightforward route would be for the Crew to win the 2024 MLS Cup, which would likely cement their place in the prestigious global tournament. But what if they fall short?

MLS faces a real dilemma when it comes to that last CWC spot. The league traditionally gravitates towards high-profile teams, and there is considerable interest in having a major market club like Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami or LAFC represent the league on the global stage. Yet, the Crew’s exceptional performances and consistent dominance have created a significant problem for the league.

Columbus is making it increasingly difficult to overlook them, regardless of the league’s preference for marketability. They have to choose between recognizable stars or the most well-driven and consistent club.

LAFC has lost four finals in a row over the past year, and Miami, apart from being the current Supporters' Shield leaders, has only won the Leagues Cup last year—a trophy Columbus recently matched. Miami’s stars are aging and will be even older when the tournament takes place, surely they can’t be the hand-picked club?

While Miami's claim is bolstered by having the greatest player of all time in their league, the league wouldn't want to miss out on. That and money talks. But then again, would you prefer giving spots to less deserving teams or the current champions to represent your league who have already excelled on the continental stage in the Champions Cup, added another trophy since, and are eyeing another in the Campeones Cup against Liga MX champs Club América?

Drawing a parallel to the 2015 Concacaf Cup, if Columbus does not win the 2024 MLS Cup, a possible solution could be a one-game playoff to determine which club from the region deserves the coveted spot in the 2025 Club World Cup. Such a match would undoubtedly be a high-stakes affair, reminiscent of the U.S. vs. Mexico showdown nearly a decade earlier. It would also add an extra layer of drama to the qualification process, ensuring that the best representative from North America gets their shot on the world stage. This would be a sensible option but is it likely? Perhaps not.

While the Columbus Crew are well-positioned to qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup if the do retain the MLS Cup, the road ahead is still filled with potential twists. Whether through continued dominance or a dramatic playoff, the Crew’s journey to the global stage will be one to watch.