2025 FIFA Club World Cup

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is set to be a landmark event, expanding to include 32 teams from around the world competing in the United States. Running from June 14 to July 13, this tournament promises a month-long festival of football, showcasing the best clubs and players on a global stage. It's not just about the games; it's a chance to see how the sport's elite perform in a format that mirrors the excitement of the World Cup.

Format and Key Dates

The tournament will follow a group stage format, with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. Each group plays in a round-robin style, and the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stages, which include a round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final. The final is scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a venue also set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Participating Teams and Stars

Teams qualified based on their recent successes in continental championships, with notable participants including European giants like Real Madrid and Manchester City, and Inter Miami, boosted by Lionel Messi's presence. Other strong contenders include South American clubs like Palmeiras and Flamengo, and African champions like Al Ahly, making for a diverse and competitive field.

Detailed Analysis of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup represents a significant evolution in international club football, expanding from its previous seven-team format to a 32-team tournament, scheduled to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. This expansion, first announced in March 2019 and postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marks the 21st edition of the competition and is designed to mirror the format of the FIFA World Cup, enhancing its global appeal and competitiveness.

Historical Context

The FIFA Club World Cup originated in 2000 as the FIFA Club World Championship, with interruptions from 2001 to 2004 due to organizational challenges. It resumed annually from 2005 through 2023, typically featuring the champions of each continent's top club competition, plus a host nation representative. The decision to expand to 32 teams, to be held quadrennially starting in 2025, was confirmed in February 2023, with the United States selected as the host country in June 2023, serving as a prelude to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Tournament Format and Structure

The 2025 edition adopts a group stage followed by knockout rounds, similar to the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup formats. The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four, with each team playing the others in their group once. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, which comprises a round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final, with no third-place playoff. The tournament spans 63 matches, running from June 14 to July 13, 2025, with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Qualification Process

Teams qualify based on their performances in their respective continental championships over the last four years, with slots allocated as follows:

• UEFA (Europe): 12 slots, including winners of the UEFA Champions League from 2020–21 to 2023–24 (e.g., Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City) and additional teams based on four-year rankings (e.g., Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain).
• CONMEBOL (South America): 6 slots, with recent Copa Libertadores winners like Palmeiras (2021), Flamengo (2022), Fluminense (2023), and Botafogo (2024), plus ranked teams like River Plate and Boca Juniors.
• AFC (Asia): 4 slots, including Al Hilal (2021 AFC Champions League), Urawa Red Diamonds (2022), Al Ain (2023–24), and Ulsan HD based on rankings.
• CAF (Africa): 4 slots, with Al Ahly qualifying multiple times (2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24), Wydad AC (2021–22), and ranked teams like Espérance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns.
• Concacaf (North, Central America, and Caribbean): 4 slots, with recent CONCACAF Champions League/Cup winners like Monterrey (2021), Seattle Sounders FC (2022), León (2023), and Pachuca (2024).
• OFC (Oceania): 1 slot, with Auckland City qualifying based on OFC Champions League rankings.
• Host Nation: 1 slot, awarded to Inter Miami CF as winners of the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield.

Below is a detailed table of the qualified teams, their confederations, and qualification criteria, extracted from reliable sources:

Confederation	Team	Qualification	Qualified Date	Participation
AFC (4 slots)	Al Hilal	Winners of the 2021 AFC Champions League	March 14, 2023	4th (2019, 2021, 2022)
AFC (4 slots)	Urawa Red Diamonds	Winners of the 2022 AFC Champions League	May 6, 2023	4th (2007, 2017, 2023)
AFC (4 slots)	Al Ain	Winners of the 2023–24 AFC Champions League	May 25, 2024	2nd (2018)
AFC (4 slots)	Ulsan HD	Best-ranked eligible team in AFC 4-year ranking	April 17, 2024	3rd (2012, 2020)
CAF (4 slots)	Al Ahly	Winners of 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24 CAF Champions League	March 14, 2023	10th (2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
CAF (4 slots)	Wydad AC	Winners of the 2021–22 CAF Champions League	March 14, 2023	3rd (2017, 2022)
CAF (4 slots)	Espérance de Tunis	Best-ranked eligible team in CAF 4-year ranking	April 26, 2024	4th (2011, 2018, 2019)
CAF (4 slots)	Mamelodi Sundowns	Second-best ranked in CAF 4-year ranking	April 26, 2024	2nd (2016)
CONCACAF (4 slots)	Monterrey	Winners of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League	March 14, 2023	6th (2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021)
CONCACAF (4 slots)	Seattle Sounders FC	Winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League	March 14, 2023	2nd (2022)
CONCACAF (4 slots)	León	Winners of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League	June 4, 2023	2nd (2023)
CONCACAF (4 slots)	Pachuca	Winners of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup	June 1, 2024	5th (2007, 2008, 2010, 2017)
CONMEBOL (6 slots)	Palmeiras	Winners of the 2021 Copa Libertadores	March 14, 2023	3rd (2020, 2021)
CONMEBOL (6 slots)	Flamengo	Winners of the 2022 Copa Libertadores	March 14, 2023	3rd (2019, 2022)
CONMEBOL (6 slots)	Fluminense	Winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores	November 4, 2023	2nd (2023)
CONMEBOL (6 slots)	Botafogo	Winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores	November 30, 2024	1st
CONMEBOL (6 slots)	River Plate	Best-ranked eligible team in CONMEBOL 4-year ranking	May 14, 2024	3rd (2015, 2018)
CONMEBOL (6 slots)	Boca Juniors	Second-best ranked in CONMEBOL 4-year ranking	August 22, 2024	2nd (2007)
OFC (1 slot)	Auckland City	Best OFC Champions League winners in 4-year ranking	December 17, 2023	12th (2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023)
UEFA (12 slots)	Chelsea	Winners of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League	March 14, 2023	3rd (2012, 2021)
UEFA (12 slots)	Real Madrid	Winners of 2021–22 and 2023–24 UEFA Champions League	March 14, 2023	7th (2000, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)
UEFA (12 slots)	Manchester City	Winners of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League	June 10, 2023	2nd (2023)
UEFA (12 slots)	Bayern Munich	Best ranked eligible team in UEFA 4-year ranking	December 17, 2023	3rd (2013, 2020)
UEFA (12 slots)	Paris Saint-Germain	Second-best ranked in UEFA 4-year ranking	December 17, 2023	1st
UEFA (12 slots)	Inter Milan	Fourth-best ranked in UEFA 4-year ranking	December 17, 2023	2nd (2010)
UEFA (12 slots)	Porto	Fifth-best ranked in UEFA 4-year ranking	December 17, 2023	1st
UEFA (12 slots)	Benfica	Seventh-best ranked in UEFA 4-year ranking	December 17, 2023	1st
UEFA (12 slots)	Borussia Dortmund	Third-best ranked in UEFA 4-year ranking	March 6, 2024	1st
UEFA (12 slots)	Juventus	Eighth-best ranked in UEFA 4-year ranking	March 12, 2024	1st
UEFA (12 slots)	Atlético Madrid	Sixth-best ranked in UEFA 4-year ranking	April 16, 2024	1st
UEFA (12 slots)	Red Bull Salzburg	Ninth-best ranked in UEFA 4-year ranking	April 17, 2024	1st
Host (1 slot)	Inter Miami CF	Winners of the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield	October 19, 2024	1st

This table, sourced from 2025 FIFA Club World Cup detailed overview, provides a comprehensive overview of the participating teams and their qualification paths.

Host Country and Venues

The United States was selected to host the 2025 tournament, aligning with its role in hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The choice enhances the country's experience in managing large-scale football events and provides a platform for showcasing its infrastructure. The tournament will utilize 12 stadiums across 11 cities, including:

• Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)
• Audi Field (Washington, DC)
• Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)
• Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)
• TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)
• Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
• Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL), hosting the opening match featuring Inter Miami
• Geodis Park (Nashville, TN)
• Camping World Stadium (Orlando, FL)
• Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, FL)
• MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ), hosting the final

These venues, detailed in Stadiums for 2025 Club World Cup announced, include facilities used by both MLS and NFL teams, ensuring high-capacity and modern amenities for spectators.

Key Players and Teams to Watch

Given the global scope, several teams stand out as favorites. European clubs dominate the betting odds, with Manchester City (+320), Real Madrid (+360), and Bayern Munich (+600) leading, according to Club World Cup 2025 Explained. Key players include Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), adding star power to the competition. South American teams like Flamengo and Botafogo, and African champions Al Ahly, also bring significant pedigree, making for a diverse and competitive field.

Schedule and Key Matches

The tournament schedule, as outlined in 2025 Club World Cup Fixtures, begins with the group stage from June 14 to June 29, 2025, followed by knockout rounds from July 2 to July 13. Notable matches include the opening game on June 14, with Inter Miami facing Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium, and high-profile group stage clashes like Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid and Manchester City vs. Juventus. The final on July 13 at MetLife Stadium is expected to feature top contenders, potentially from Europe or South America.

Impact and Significance

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is poised to elevate the profile of club football globally, offering a platform for 32 of the world's best teams to compete in a month-long festival. Its timing, just before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, serves as a critical test for U.S. infrastructure and logistics, potentially influencing future international tournaments. The expansion to 32 teams, as noted in Format and Qualification, aims to make the competition more inclusive, though it has sparked controversy over player workload and scheduling, with some leagues and player associations criticizing FIFA for prioritizing financial gains over player health.

Frequently asked questions

1. When and where will the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 take place?

The tournament will be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. Matches will be played across 12 venues in 11 cities, with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey​.

2. How many teams will participate in the tournament?

The 2025 edition will feature 32 teams, making it the biggest Club World Cup ever. This is a major expansion from the previous format, which included only seven teams​.

3. What is the tournament format?

It will follow a World Cup-style format with eight groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16, followed by knockout rounds leading up to the final​.

4. Which teams have qualified so far?

Several clubs have already secured their spots, including:

• Europe (UEFA): Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, and Juventus.

• South America (CONMEBOL): Palmeiras, Flamengo, Boca Juniors.

• North America (CONCACAF): Seattle Sounders, Club América, Monterrey.

• Asia (AFC): Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Urawa Red Diamonds, Guangzhou FC.

• Africa (CAF): Al Ahly, Raja Casablanca, Wydad Casablanca.

• Oceania (OFC): Auckland City​.

5. Which high-profile players will be involved?

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will compete, making it a must-watch tournament. Other superstars like Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), and Kylian Mbappé (PSG) are also expected to participate​.

6. How will this tournament impact global club football?

The expansion to 32 teams is meant to increase competition and revenue, giving clubs from Africa, Asia, and North America more chances to showcase their talent against Europe’s elite. The tournament is also expected to boost football's popularity in the U.S. ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup​.

7. Where will the opening match and final be played?

• Opening match: Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida.

• Final match: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey​.

8. Will there be prize money for the winners?

Yes, FIFA is expected to offer a significant prize pool, though the exact amount hasn’t been confirmed. Reports suggest it could be one of the biggest payouts in club football history​