Liverpool is one of the most successful football clubs in England and Europe. The club has won 19 league titles, 7 FA Cups, 8 League Cups, 6 European Cups/Champions League titles and 3 UEFA Cups/Europa League titles. However, Liverpool has never won the FIFA Club World Cup.
Quick Answer
No, Liverpool has not yet won the FIFA Club World Cup. The club has reached the final once in 2005 but lost 1-0 to São Paulo FC.
When Did Liverpool Play in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Liverpool has played in the FIFA Club World Cup only once in 2005. This was the second edition of the tournament. Liverpool qualified by winning the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League.
Here is a quick overview of Liverpool’s participation:
- Round 1: Liverpool defeated Deportivo Saprissa 3–0
- Semifinal: Liverpool defeated São Paulo 1–0
- Final: São Paulo defeated Liverpool 1–0
So Liverpool finished as runners-up in 2005 after losing to São Paulo in the final.
Why Has Liverpool Only Played Once in the FIFA Club World Cup?
There are a few reasons why Liverpool has only featured once in the FIFA Club World Cup:
- The tournament began in 2000, so there were only 5 editions before Liverpool qualified in 2005.
- Liverpool went through a decline in the late 2000s and did not win any European trophies between 2005-2019.
- The tournament was not held in 2009 and 2012.
- Winning the Champions League or Europa League is the main pathway for European teams to qualify.
After the near 15-year gap, Liverpool qualified again in 2019 after winning the 2018–19 Champions League. However, the tournament was postponed to 2020 due to COVID-19, so Liverpool could not participate.
When Are Liverpool Playing Next in the FIFA Club World Cup?
As of November 2023, Liverpool has not qualified for the next edition of the FIFA Club World Cup. The club will have to win either the Champions League or Europa League in 2022-23 to make the tournament.
If Liverpool wins one of those competitions, they will likely play in the December 2023 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament usually takes place in December each year.
What is Liverpool’s Overall Record in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Here is Liverpool’s overall record in their only appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005:
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
So Liverpool has a record of 2 wins, 0 draws and 1 loss in the FIFA Club World Cup. Their only defeat came against São Paulo in the final.
What is Liverpool’s Tournament History in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Here is an overview of Liverpool’s history and record in the FIFA Club World Cup tournaments they have participated in:
2005 FIFA Club World Cup
- Qualified by winning 2004–05 Champions League
- Defeated Deportivo Saprissa 3–0 in quarter-final
- Defeated São Paulo 1–0 in semi-final
- Lost 1–0 to São Paulo in final
- Finished runners-up
Liverpool have not yet qualified for any other edition of the FIFA Club World Cup since 2005.
Who Has Liverpool Played in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Liverpool has faced the following teams in their FIFA Club World Cup matches:
- Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica): Defeated 3–0 in quarter-final in 2005
- São Paulo FC (Brazil):
- Defeated 1–0 in semi-final in 2005
- Lost 1–0 in final in 2005
So Liverpool’s only opponents have been Deportivo Saprissa from Costa Rica and São Paulo FC from Brazil. Their 2005 final loss to São Paulo remains their only defeat in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Who Were Liverpool’s Top Scorers and Best Players?
Here are some of Liverpool’s top scorers and best performing players in their 2005 FIFA Club World Cup campaign:
- Peter Crouch – Scored 3 goals including decisive goals against Saprissa and São Paulo in semi-final. Won Silver Ball award.
- Steven Gerrard – Captain and midfield maestro. Played crucial role in leading Liverpool to the final.
- Jamie Carragher – Solid in defense throughout the tournament.
- Xabi Alonso – Controlled midfield, assisted Crouch’s goal in semi-final vs São Paulo.
Despite losing the final, Liverpool’s top stars like Crouch, Gerrard and Carragher played key roles during the club’s 2005 FIFA Club World Cup run.
Who Has Won the FIFA Club World Cup?
Here is the list of all past winners of the FIFA Club World Cup since the inaugural edition in 2000:
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Corinthians | 0–0 (4–3 p) | Vasco da Gama |
| 2005 | São Paulo | 1–0 | Liverpool |
| 2006 | Internacional | 1–0 | Barcelona |
| 2007 | AC Milan | 4–2 | Boca Juniors |
| 2008 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Liga de Quito |
| 2009 | Barcelona | 2–1 a.e.t. | Estudiantes |
| 2010 | Internazionale | 3–0 | TP Mazembe |
| 2011 | Barcelona | 4–0 | Santos |
| 2012 | Corinthians | 1–0 | Chelsea |
| 2013 | Bayern Munich | 2–0 | Raja Casablanca |
| 2014 | Real Madrid | 2–0 | San Lorenzo |
| 2015 | Barcelona | 3–0 | River Plate |
| 2016 | Real Madrid | 4–2 a.e.t. | Kashima Antlers |
| 2017 | Real Madrid | 1–0 | Grêmio |
| 2018 | Real Madrid | 4–1 | Al Ain |
| 2019 | Liverpool | 1–0 a.e.t. | Flamengo |
| 2020 | Bayern Munich | 1–0 | Tigres UANL |
| 2021 | Chelsea | 2–1 a.e.t. | Palmeiras |
Real Madrid holds the record with 4 titles. Brazilian clubs have won the tournament 4 times while Spanish clubs have 6 titles.
When Did Liverpool Eventually Win Their First FIFA Club World Cup?
After losing their only final appearance in 2005, Liverpool finally won their first FIFA Club World Cup title in 2019:
- Liverpool qualified by winning the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League.
- They defeated Mexican club Monterrey 2-1 in the semi-final.
- In the final, Liverpool beat Brazilian side Flamengo 1–0 after extra time from a goal by Roberto Firmino.
This was the first time Liverpool won the FIFA Club World Cup in their history after falling short in 2005.
Liverpool’s 2019 FIFA Club World Cup Campaign
Here is an overview of how Liverpool won their maiden FIFA Club World Cup title in 2019:
Semi-final: Liverpool 2-1 Monterrey
- Keita opened scoring for Liverpool in 11th minute
- Funes Mori equalized for Monterrey in 14th minute
- Firmino scored winner for Liverpool in injury time
Final: Liverpool 1-0 Flamengo
- Roberto Firmino scored in 99th minute (extra time)
- First FIFA Club World Cup title for Liverpool
Despite trailing late against Monterrey and struggling to break down Flamengo, Liverpool dug deep and won their first ever FIFA Club World Cup trophy.
Liverpool’s Overall FIFA Club World Cup Record
Combining Liverpool’s two FIFA Club World Cup campaigns in 2005 and 2019, here is their overall tournament record:
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Liverpool have played 5 FIFA Club World Cup matches, winning 3 and losing 2. Their losses came in the 2005 final and 2019 semi-final.
Conclusion
In summary, Liverpool has played in the FIFA Club World Cup twice:
- In 2005, they finished as runners-up after losing 1-0 to São Paulo in the final.
- In 2019, Liverpool finally won their first FIFA Club World Cup after beating Flamengo 1-0 in the final.
Liverpool lost their only final appearance in 2005. But after qualifying again in 2019, they managed to win the tournament by defeating Mexican and Brazilian clubs on their way to the title.
The 2019 FIFA Club World Cup remains Liverpool’s only title win in the competition’s history so far. The club will hope to qualify again in the near future to win more titles and boost their record in the global tournament.
