The 2025 Club World Cup will be the 21st edition of this competition and will be held in the United States between 14th June and 13th July.
This competition has had a major revamp and will look very different to previous tournaments. The new format means 32 teams from different countries and confederations will fight for the title in a competition that, as with the World Cup, will now be held every four years.
However, the new competition is not without its critics. A new four-week tournament, scheduled between the main European domestic league seasons, means that there are concerns for players’ welfare, given the additional amount of matches in which some teams will be competing.
The quirks of the format mean that a maximum of two clubs from any country can qualify. The likes of Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen were amongst some of the higher profile clubs not to get a spot in the competition.
We’ll take a deep look into the how the teams have qualified, the format of the tournament, which teams were drawn in each group and the match schedule.
Take a seat and enjoy our guide to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
How have clubs qualified for the tournament?
Each of the six international football confederations will be represented: Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North and Central America (CONCACAF), South America (CONMEBOL), Oceania (OFC) and Europe (UEFA).
UEFA gets the highest representation with 12 allocated places. These are calculated based on clubs’ performances in the Champions League over the previous four seasons, with the winners automatically included. As both Chelsea and Manchester City have won the Champions League in the last four years, and no European country is permitted to provide more than two teams, no further English clubs were considered. South America was awarded six slots; Asia, Africa and North and Central America get four slots each; Oceania gets one slot; and the host nation also gets one slot.
Clubs from each confederation amass points over the previous four years based on their performance in their continental club competitions, with the slots being awarded based on those points.
The competition place awarded for the host nation went to Inter Miami. This was a controversial choice given that, although Inter Miami had the best record in the MLS regular season and thus won the MLS Supporters’ Shield, they were subsequently eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. LA Galaxy were ultimately crowned the winners after defeating NY Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final. However, the decision to include Inter Miami did mean that Lionel Messi would be playing in the Club World Cup, which will massively increase interest in the competition in the host country.
Which team will compete in the Club World Cup and how did they qualify?
| Club | Country | Conf. | Qualifying Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | England | UEFA | 2020/21 Champions League winner |
| Manchester City | England | UEFA | 2022/23 Champions League winner |
| Real Madrid | Spain | UEFA | 2021/22 & 2023/24 Champions League winner |
| Atlético Madrid | Spain | UEFA | UEFA 4-year ranking |
| Bayern Munich | Germany | UEFA | UEFA 4-year ranking |
| Borussia Dortmund | Germany | UEFA | UEFA 4-year ranking |
| Inter Milan | Italy | UEFA | UEFA 4-year ranking |
| Juventus | Italy | UEFA | UEFA 4-year ranking |
| Paris Saint-Germain | France | UEFA | UEFA 4-year ranking |
| Porto | Portugal | UEFA | UEFA 4-year ranking |
| Benfica | Portugal | UEFA | UEFA 4-year ranking |
| Salzburg | Austria | UEFA | UEFA 4-year ranking |
| Palmeiras | Brazil | CONMEBOL | 2021 Copa Libertadores |
| Flamengo | Brazil | CONMEBOL | 2022 Copa Libertadores |
| Fluminense | Brazil | CONMEBOL | 2023 Copa Libertadores |
| Botafogo | Brazil | CONMEBOL | 2024 Copa Libertadores |
| River Plate | Argentina | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL 4-year ranking |
| Boca Juniors | Argentina | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL 4-year ranking |
| Inter Miami | United States | Host | 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield winner |
| Monterrey | Mexico | CONCACAF | 2021 CONCACAF Champions League winner |
| León | Mexico | CONCACAF | 2023 CONCACAF Champions League winner |
| Pachuca | Mexico | CONCACAF | 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup winner |
| Seattle Sounders | United States | CONCACAF | 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winner |
| Al Hilal | Saudi Arabia | AFC | 2021 AFC Champions League winner |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | Japan | AFC | 2022 AFC Champions League winner |
| Al Ain | UAE | AFC | 2023/24 AFC Champions League winner |
| Ulsan | South Korea | AFC | AFC 4-year ranking |
| Al Ahly | Egypt | CAF | 2020/21, 2022/23 & 2023/24 CAF Champions League winner |
| Wydad | Morocco | CAF | 2021/22 CAF Champions League winner |
| Espérance de Tunis | Tunisia | CAF | CAF 4-year ranking |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | South Africa | CAF | CAF 4-year ranking |
| Auckland City | New Zealand | OFC | Highest 4-year ranked OFC Champions League winner |
How is the UEFA four-year ranking for clubs calculated?
The ranking is based on their previous performance over the last four years in the premier club competition. This is the Champions League in the case of UEFA.
The ranking was based on points allotted according to the following criteria:
• Two points for a win, one point for a draw
• Four points for qualification for the group stage
• Five points for qualification for the round of 16
• One additional point for progress to each stage of the competition thereafter
A maximum of two clubs from each European nation are allowed. Therefore, although Liverpool were in eighth place, RB Leipzig were in 11th and Barcelona were in 12th in the ranking table, all three sides missed out, as there were two teams who had amassed a higher total of ranking points from England, Germany and Spain respectively. Salzburg gained the 12th and final spot in the Club World Cup despite a ranking of 18th in the overall table.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match schedule
The 32 teams were split into four pots prior to the draw for the groups. This was to ensure, as best as possible, an equal split of teams of a similar ranking across the eight groups.
Note: The match times shown below are all local.
Group A teams
🇧🇷 Palmeiras
🇵🇹 Porto
🇪🇬 Al Ahly
🇺🇸 Inter Miami
Group A matches
Al Ahly 🆚 Inter Miami – June 14th – 20:00 EDT
Palmeiras 🆚 Porto – June 15th – 20:00 EDT
Palmeiras 🆚 Al Ahly – June 19th – 12:00 EDT
Inter Miami 🆚 Porto – June 19th – 15:00 EDT
Inter Miami 🆚 Palmeiras – June 23rd – 21:00 EDT
Porto 🆚 Al Ahly – June 23rd – 21:00 EDT
Group B teams
🇫🇷 Paris Saint-Germain
🇪🇸 Atlético Madrid
🇧🇷 Botafogo
🇺🇸 Seattle Sounders
Group B matches
Paris Saint-Germain 🆚 Atlético Madrid – June 15th – 12:00 PDT
Botafogo 🆚 Seattle Sounders – June 15th – 19:00 PDT
Seattle Sounders 🆚 Atlético Madrid – June 19th – 15:00 PDT
Paris Saint-Germain 🆚 Botafogo – June 19th – 18:00 PDT
Seattle Sounders 🆚 Paris Saint-Germain – June 23rd – 12:00 PDT
Atlético Madrid 🆚 Botafogo – June 23rd – 12:00 PDT
Group C teams
🇩🇪 Bayern Munich
🇳🇿 Auckland City
🇦🇷 Boca Juniors
🇵🇹 Benfica
Group C matches
Bayern Munich 🆚 Auckland City – June 15th – 12:00 EDT
Boca Juniors 🆚 Benfica – June 16th – 18:00 EDT
Benfica 🆚 Auckland City – June 20th – 12:00 EDT
Bayern Munich 🆚 Boca Juniors – June 20th – 21:00 EDT
Auckland City 🆚 Boca Juniors – June 24th – 14:00 CDT
Benfica 🆚 Bayern Munich – June 24th – 15:00 EDT
Group D teams
🇧🇷 Flamengo
🇹🇳 Espérance de Tunis
🏴 Chelsea
🇲🇽 León
Group D matches
Chelsea 🆚 León – June 16th – 15:00 EDT
Flamengo 🆚 Espérance de Tunis – June 16th – 21:00 EDT
Flamengo 🆚 Chelsea – June 20th – 14:00 EDT
León 🆚 Espérance de Tunis – June 20th – 17:00 EDT
León 🆚 Flamengo – June 24th – 21:00 EDT
Espérance de Tunis 🆚 Chelsea – June 24th – 21:00 EDT
Group E teams
🇦🇷 River Plate
🇯🇵 Urawa Red Diamonds
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇮🇹 Inter Milan
Group E matches
River Plate 🆚 Urawa Red Diamonds – June 17th – 12:00 PDT
Monterrey 🆚 Inter Milan – June 17th – 18:00 PDT
Inter Milan 🆚 Urawa Red Diamonds – June 21st – 12:00 PDT
River Plate 🆚 Monterrey – June 21st – 18:00 PDT
Inter Milan 🆚 River Plate – June 25th – 18:00 PDT
Urawa Red Diamonds 🆚 Monterrey – June 25th – 18:00 PDT
Group F teams
🇧🇷 Fluminense
🇩🇪 Borussia Dortmund
🇰🇷 Ulsan
🇿🇦 Mamelodi Sundowns
Group F matches
Fluminense 🆚 Borussia Dortmund – June 17th – 12:00 EDT
Ulsan 🆚 Mamelodi Sundowns – June 17th – 18:00 EDT
Mamelodi Sundowns 🆚 Borussia Dortmund – June 21st – 12:00 EDT
Fluminense 🆚 Ulsan – June 21st – 18:00 EDT
Borussia Dortmund 🆚 Ulsan – June 25th – 15:00 EDT
Mamelodi Sundowns 🆚 Fluminense – June 25th – 15:00 EDT
Group G teams
🏴 Manchester City
🇲🇦 Wydad
🇦🇪 Al Ain
🇮🇹 Juventus
Group G matches
Manchester City 🆚 Wydad – June 18th – 12:00 EDT
Al Ain 🆚 Juventus – June 18th – 21:00 EDT
Juventus 🆚 Wydad – June 22nd – 12:00 EDT
Manchester City 🆚 Al Ain – June 22nd – 21:00 EDT
Juventus 🆚 Manchester City – June 26th – 15:00 EDT
Wydad 🆚 Al Ain – June 26th – 15:00 EDT
Group H teams
🇪🇸 Real Madrid
🇸🇦 Al Hilal
🇲🇽 Pachuca
🇦🇹 Salzburg
Group H matches
Real Madrid 🆚 Al Hilal – June 18th – 15:00 EDT
Pachuca 🆚 Salzburg – June 18th – 18:00 EDT
Real Madrid 🆚 Pachuca – June 22nd – 15:00 EDT
Salzburg 🆚 Al Hilal – June 22nd – 18:00 EDT
Al Hilal 🆚 Pachuca – June 26th – 20:00 CDT
Salzburg 🆚 Real Madrid – June 26th – 21:00 EDT
Who will win the 2025 Club World Cup?
At the time of writing, the start of the Club World Cup is nearly six months away, so the current form of the competing teams has less relevance. For example, Manchester City are currently on a run of just two wins from their last 14 matches, but by the time the Club World Cup starts, that poor form could be a distant memory.
One supposition which is very likely is that the winner will come from one of the European teams, especially given there will be 12 UEFA entrants in this year’s competition. Since 2006, only one winner of the Club World Cup has not been from Europe. This happened in 2012, when Brazilian side Corinthians bucked the trend. Although those tournaments were with the old format and with fewer teams competing, so there was only one European entrant in each.
What are the odds to win the Club World Cup?
| Team | Odds | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 5.05 | Inter Miami | 41.00 |
| Real Madrid | 5.05 | River Plate | 41.00 |
| Bayern Munich | 7.60 | Fluminense | 51.00 |
| Chelsea | 10.25 | Al Ain | 101.00 |
| Inter Milan | 12.00 | Salzburg | 101.00 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 13.25 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 106.00 |
| Atlético Madrid | 16.25 | Al Ahly | 126.00 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 25.00 | León | 126.00 |
| Juventus | 25.00 | Monterrey | 126.00 |
| Palmeiras | 27.00 | Pachuca | 126.00 |
| Botafogo | 30.00 | Seattle Sounders | 126.00 |
| Al-Hilal | 35.00 | Ulsan | 126.00 |
| Benfica | 35.00 | Wydad | 265.00 |
| Flamengo | 35.00 | Espérance de Tunis | 551.00 |
| Porto | 35.00 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 551.00 |
| Boca Juniors | 41.00 | Auckland City | 1501.00 |
Competing teams records in the Club World Cup
| Team | Wins | Runners-Up | Times Taken Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Bayern Munich | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Chelsea | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Inter Milan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Manchester City | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Boca Juniors | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| River Plate | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Al Ain | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Flamengo | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Palmeiras | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Al-Hilal | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Fluminense | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Auckland City | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Al Ahly | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Monterrey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Pachuca | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Espérance de Tunis | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Wydad | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ulsan | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| León | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Seattle Sounders | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Atlético Madrid | 0 | 0 | Debut |
| Benfica | 0 | 0 | Debut |
| Borussia Dortmund | 0 | 0 | Debut |
| Botafogo | 0 | 0 | Debut |
| Inter Miami | 0 | 0 | Debut |
| Juventus | 0 | 0 | Debut |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 0 | 0 | Debut |
| Porto | 0 | 0 | Debut |
| Salzburg | 0 | 0 | Debut |
Which stadiums will host matches in the 2025 Club World Cup?
The 12 stadiums hosting the matches are:
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
• TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Rose Bowl, Los Angeles, 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, DC
FIFA Club World Cup FAQs
What is the FIFA Club World Cup?
The Club World Cup is an international football tournament comprising clubs from each of the different football confederations.
When will the 2025 Club World Cup take place?
The opening match is on the 14th of June 2025, with the final taking place on 13th July.
Where will the 2025 Club World Cup be held?
The tournament will be held in the United States.
How many teams will compete in the 2025 Club World Cup?
The tournament format has changed, with 32 teams now competing in the tournament.
How do teams qualify for the Club World Cup?
Qualification is based on success in the premier club competition of each confederation, alongside a ranking system to fill the additional spots in the tournament. You can see how each team qualified in the table here. (link to table at start of article)
What is the format of the 2025 Club World Cup?
The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group progress to the round of 16.
How often does the Club World Cup take place?
Since 2005, the Club World Cup has been held yearly, with either six or seven teams taking part. With the new expanded format of 32 teams, the competition will now take place every four years.
When did the draw take place to decide the Club World Cup groups?
The draw for the group stage was made on 5th December in Miami, Florida.
When was the first Club World Cup?
The first tournament took place in 2000 and was hosted in Brazil. Corinthians beat Vasco da Gama in an all-Brazilian final.
Who are the current Club World Cup champions?
Manchester City defeated Fluminense 4-0 in the 2023 Club World Cup final, which took place at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Where will the 2025 Club World Cup final be played?
The 2025 Club World Cup final will be played at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stadium is the home ground of NFL teams the New York Giants and the New York Jets and is also scheduled to host the final of the 2026 Football World Cup.
How many venues will host 2025 Club World Cup matches?
There will be 12 different venues used throughout the tournament, spread across 11 cities.
Which teams have won the 2025 Club World Cup more than once?
Real Madrid have won five titles, followed by Barcelona with three. Corinthians and Bayern Munich have each won the tournament twice.
The Club World Cup is one of a whole host of fantastic sporting events taking place throughout the year. You can see the full schedule in our Sports Calendar.
