New Delhi: The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be a historic tournament, marking the first edition with an expanded format and an exciting mix of top clubs from around the globe. Taking place from June 15 to July 13, 2025, in the United States, the tournament will feature 32 teams, up from the previous 7. It will be a thrilling competition, with Europe’s biggest clubs, like Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, facing off against the best from South America, North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
There will also be a special appearance by Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, who have qualified as the host nation’s representative. The tournament will follow a similar format to the FIFA World Cup, with teams divided into eight groups, leading to knockout rounds and a final.
This revamped tournament is set to bring together some of the world’s most exciting footballing talents, making it one of the most anticipated events in the sport’s calendar.
When is it taking place?
🌍🏆 The official poster for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. pic.twitter.com/NqSSa2Qy7V
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) December 5, 2024
The 2025 Club World Cup will take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025, across the United States. Matches will be held in 12 cities:
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
Camping World Stadium (Orlando)
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
TQL Stadium (Cincinnati)
Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles)
GEODIS Park (Nashville)
Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando)
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Lumen Field (Seattle)
Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)Format of the Tournament
The 2025 Club World Cup will feature 32 teams, significantly expanding from the previous seven-team format. The tournament will follow a similar structure to the FIFA World Cup, with teams divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages, starting with the Round of 16 and progressing to the Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and Final.
Additionally, only the two winners of the semi-finals will compete for the title, and there won’t be a third-place fixture.
How does the draw work?
💬Club World Cup 2025, before the draw.@adidasfootball @realmadrid pic.twitter.com/NzRz8p4GEa
— Moshu (@YtMoshu) December 5, 2024
The draw of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is scheduled to take place on December 5, 2024, in Miami. Teams will be drawn from four pots, each containing teams based on their ranking and region. Here’s a breakdown of the key draw rules:
No group can have more than one team from the same confederation, except for Europe, which has a large number of teams.
Clubs from the same country (e.g., Chelsea and Manchester City) cannot be placed in the same group.
Pots for the Draw:
Pot 1: Best teams from Europe and South America:
Flamengo, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Palmeiras, Real Madrid, River Plate, Paris Saint-Germain, Fluminense.
Pot 2: Remaining top teams from Europe:
Juventus, Porto, Chelsea, Red Bull Salzburg, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund.
Pot 3: Top teams from Asia, Africa, and North America:
Al Hilal, Boca Juniors, Monterrey, Al Ahly, Botafogo, Urawa Red Diamonds, Wydad, Pachuca.
Pot 4: Teams from Asia, Africa, North America, and Oceania, plus the host nation:
Esperance de Tunis, Seattle Sounders, Auckland City, Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ain, Pachuca, Inter Miami, Ulsan Hyundai.
Who qualifies for the tournament?
2025 FIFA Club World Cup 🏆🌎
👍 or 👎? pic.twitter.com/mWB0bV0lCo
— Emilio Sansolini (@EmilioSansolini) December 2, 2024
The 32 teams in the 2025 Club World Cup will qualify based on their performances in continental club competitions. Here’s a breakdown by region:
Europe (12 teams)
Top clubs from the UEFA Champions League over recent years:
Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Porto, Benfica, Red Bull Salzburg, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid.
South America (6 teams)
Top teams from the Copa Libertadores:
Flamengo, Fluminense, River Plate, Palmeiras, Boca Juniors, Botafogo (Libertadores winner).
North America (4 teams)
Top teams from the CONCACAF Champions League:
Monterrey, Pachuca, Seattle Sounders, Leon.
Inter Miami (host nation slot)
Africa (4 teams)
Top clubs from the CAF Champions League:
Al Ahly, Wydad, Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance de Tunis.
Asia (4 teams)
Top clubs from the AFC Champions League:
Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Hilal, Al Ain, Ulsan Hyundai.
Oceania (1 team)
The best team from the OFC Champions League:
Auckland City.
Who is the current champion of the FIFA Club World Cup?
Manchester City (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Manchester City are the current Club World Cup champions, having won the 2023 edition. They defeated Fluminense 4-0 in the final, securing their first-ever Club World Cup victory.
Key players to watch
Although matchups can’t be fully predicted yet, here are some key players to keep an eye on in the 2025 tournament:
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, if he stays)
Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo will not be participating, as his team Al Nassr did not qualify. However, Al Hilal, another Saudi club, will be competing in his absence.
Where can you watch the tournament?
The 2025 Club World Cup will be broadcast on various sports channels and streaming platforms worldwide. It was announced that the DAZN sports streaming application will be streaming the matches in the US and worldwide.
The 2025 tournament expands to 32 teams, featuring elite clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Inter Miami. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
