[2] It was not held between 2001 and 2004 due to a combination of factors, most importantly the collapse of FIFA's marketing partner International Sport and Leisure.

[3] Following a change in format which saw the FIFA Club World Championship absorb the Intercontinental Cup, it was relaunched in 2005 and took its current name the season afterwards.

The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, starting with the round of 16 and culminating with the final.

[1] At the end of each final tournament, several awards are attributed to the players and teams which have distinguished themselves from the rest in different aspects of the game.

There are currently three awards:[5] The following two awards are no longer given: The winners of the competition also receive the FIFA Club World Cup Champions Badge; it features an image of the trophy, which the reigning champion is entitled to display on its kit until the final of the next championship.

Six players have won two man of the match awards: The name of the award has varied based on the tournament sponsor: The FIFA Fair Play Trophy is given to the team with the best record of fair play during the Club World Cup tournament.