The highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is set to make history as the largest global club football tournament ever. The draw for the competition takes place this Thursday in Miami, where the first-round groups for the 32 participating teams will be unveiled. Here’s everything you need to know about this expanded tournament, scheduled to run from June 15 to July 13, 2025, across the United States.
A Brief History of the Tournament
The concept of determining the world’s greatest football club dates back to the Intercontinental Cup, launched in 1960. This competition featured Europe’s top club against South America’s best. In its inaugural edition, the legendary Real Madrid team, led by stars like Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas, triumphed over Uruguay’s Penarol in a two-legged final.
The FIFA Club World Cup officially began in 2000 as an eight-team event hosted in Brazil. The tournament crowned Corinthians as the first champions at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Since then, the tournament has evolved into a seven-team format, including champions from all continents.
The 2025 edition will mark a new era, expanding to 32 teams for the first time, solidifying its status as the most ambitious club tournament in football history.
Who’s Playing?
A total of 32 teams will compete in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. These teams represent various continental football associations, with allocations as follows:
- Europe (UEFA): 12 teams
- South America (CONMEBOL): 6 teams
- Africa (CAF): 4 teams
- Asia (AFC): 4 teams
- North & Central America, Caribbean (CONCACAF): 4 teams
- Oceania (OFC): 1 team
- Host Nation Slot (USA): 1 team
Qualified Teams
Here’s a breakdown of the qualified clubs by region:
- Africa:
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Wydad (Morocco)
- ES Tunis (Tunisia)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- Asia:
- Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
- Al Ain (UAE)
- Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea)
- Europe:
- Chelsea (England)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Manchester City (England)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Porto (Portugal)
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Juventus (Italy)
- Atletico Madrid (Spain)
- RB Salzburg (Austria)
- North, Central America & Caribbean:
- Monterrey (Mexico)
- Seattle Sounders (USA)
- Club Leon (Mexico)
- Pachuca (Mexico)
- Oceania:
- Auckland City (New Zealand)
- South America:
- Palmeiras (Brazil)
- Flamengo (Brazil)
- Fluminense (Brazil)
- Botafogo (Brazil)
- River Plate (Argentina)
- Boca Juniors (Argentina)
- Host Nation Slot:
- Inter Miami (USA)
Stadiums and Host Cities
The tournament will be hosted across 12 iconic venues in the United States, staging a total of 63 matches. The opening game will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, while the final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
List of Stadiums
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)
- TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)
- Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Rose Bowl Stadium (Pasadena, California)
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, Florida)
- Geodis Park (Nashville, Tennessee)
- MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
- Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
- Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Lumen Field (Seattle, Washington)
- Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
Tournament Format
The competition will adopt a format similar to the FIFA World Cup structure used from 1998 to 2022.
- Group Stage:
- 32 teams divided into 8 groups of 4.
- Teams play each other once in a round-robin format.
- Top two teams from each group advance to the knockout rounds.
- Knockout Stage:
- Begins with the Round of 16.
- Single-match elimination through to the final.
Notably, the tournament will not feature a third-place playoff.
Why It’s Significant
This expanded format aims to elevate the prestige of the FIFA Club World Cup, showcasing top clubs from around the globe in a highly competitive environment. With 32 teams, this tournament rivals the scale of the FIFA World Cup and provides an opportunity for lesser-known teams to face football giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Boca Juniors on a grand stage.