According to reports, FIFA is preparing to launch the first Club World Cup with the participation of 32 major clubs. The goal of this tournament is to create a competition on par with the most prestigious national tournament, the World Cup. However, just weeks before the start of the event, scheduled to take place from June 14 to July 13 in the United States, a serious concern has emerged behind the scenes at FIFA: There is now a 50% chance that the champion of the Champions League, the most popular club competition in the world, may not even participate in this newly established FIFA tournament.

Of the four teams that have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, two—Barcelona and Arsenal—have not secured a spot in the Club World Cup. In other words, if Barça eliminates Inter Milan in the second leg this week and Arsenal overturns their 1-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the presence of the European champion in FIFA’s new tournament will be ruled out.

But this is not FIFA’s only concern. Barcelona’s players have had a stellar season globally. Pedri González, whom Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos called the best player in the world in his position, or Raphinha, whose goals and assists make him a contender for the Ballon d’Or. Most importantly, Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old star who has drawn praise from figures like Erling Haaland, Thierry Henry, and Rio Ferdinand, is now progressing at an astonishing pace.

All these factors have created an unfavorable situation for FIFA. With the simplest logic, it can be understood that a final between Inter and PSG in Munich is far more desirable for FIFA than a final between Barcelona and Arsenal. Why? Because if one of the latter two teams wins, the Club World Cup will be held without the European champion and its global stars.

Everything was set for this concern to become a reality when another incident fueled the feeling: The presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Miami Grand Prix. He posed for a photo with the Club World Cup trophy there and smilingly said: “Everyone knows I’m an Inter fan!”