2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Pots revealed for the group stage ahead of the draw

FIFA is shaking things up with the Club World Cup, adopting a format that mirrors the FIFA World Cup. Previously held annually in December with seven teams from six federations, the tournament is now expanding to a 32-team showdown, scheduled for June and July—the same time frame as the World Cup. With the tournament expanding to such a wide extent, it changes the tournament in every aspect that we know of.

The revamped format will feature 32 clubs from all six federations, offering a more global and competitive feel. Slot allocation is based on a set of objective criteria, giving UEFA the lion’s share with 12 spots. CONMEBOL follows with six slots, while AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF each get four. Meanwhile, the OFC and the host nation secure one slot each. This shift aims to elevate the tournament’s prestige, making it a true global battle for club supremacy.

FIFA Club World Cup Pot 1

Pot 1: #FIFACWC draw! 🗳️@ManCity. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿@RealMadrid. 🇪🇸@FCBayern. 🇩🇪@PSG_inside. 🇫🇷@Flamengo. 🇧🇷@Palmeiras. 🇧🇷@RiverPlate. 🇦🇷@FluminenseFC. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/2jh3q7usI4

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 3, 2024

Like every other club competition, the best ranked teams competing in the tournament have all been drawn in Pot 1. The Pot comprises of the four top-ranked teams from UEFA and CONMEBOL, the two federations with the most spots in the tournament. Big name clubs like Manchester City, Bayern Munich and defending champions Real Madrid have all been drawn in this pot alongside the biggest clubs from Brazil and Argentina.

FIFA Club World Cup Pot 2

Pot 2: #FIFACWC draw! 🗳️@ChelseaFC. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿@BlackYellow. 🇩🇪@Inter. 🇮🇹@FCPorto. 🇵🇹@Atleti. 🇪🇸@SLBenfica. 🇵🇹@JuventusFC. 🇮🇹@RedBullSalzburg. 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/nrVCCVllfK

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 3, 2024

Since the UEFA had the most spots in the tournament with 12, the remaining eight teams that didn’t make it Pot one have all been drawn in the second Pot. This is the only Pot in the tournament that contains members from only one federation and contains popular clubs like Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus among others. What’s interesting to note is that clubs from the same member association can’t be drawn against each other in the group stages so Chelsea will be able to avoid Manchester City till at least the knockout stages.

FIFA Club World Cup Pot 3

Pot 3: #FIFACWC draw! 🗳️@AlHilal_FC. 🇸🇦
Ulsan HD. 🇰🇷@AlAhly. 🇪🇬@WACofficiel. 🇲🇦@Rayados. 🇲🇽@ClubLeonFC. 🇲🇽@BocaJrsOficial. 🇦🇷@Botafogo. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/fToClWbCtS

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 3, 2024

This Pot comprises a mix of teams from the remaining federations as well as the remaining teams from CONEMBOL. The two remaining CONEMBOL teams are paired together in this spot alongside the two top ranked teams each from the AFC, CAF and CONCACAF. Neymar’s Al Hilal find themselves in this Pot alongside Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo and one of the biggest Argentinian clubs in Boca Juniors.

FIFA Club World Cup Pot 4

Pot 4: #FIFACWC draw! 🗳️@REDSOFFICIAL. 🇯🇵@alainfcae. 🇦🇪@ESTunis1919. 🇹🇳@Masandawana. 🇿🇦@Tuzos. 🇲🇽@SoundersFC. 🇺🇸@AucklandCity_FC. 🇳🇿@InterMiamiCF. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/iTX4Ih2D1W

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 3, 2024

The final Pot for the draw comprises of teams that haven’t yet found a spot for themselves. The remaining teams from the AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF are in this Pot along with the sole representatives from the OFC and the solitary spot given to the host nation. With that in mind, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, USA’s Seattle Sounders and Emirati club Al Ain FC have all been drawn into Pot 4.