The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is set to revolutionize global club football with a bold new format. Hosted in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025, this expanded tournament will feature 32 elite teams from six confederations, competing across 12 venues for a chance to claim the title of world champion. Here’s your comprehensive guide to the revamped FIFA Club World Cup.
The FIFA Club World Cup is a prestigious international club football tournament organized by FIFA. While it began in 2000 and became an annual event from 2005 to 2023, the 2025 edition marks a significant overhaul. Unlike the previous seven-team format, the new tournament will mirror the FIFA World Cup structure with 32 teamsmaking it a quadrennial event held every four years. The 2025 edition aims to elevate club football’s global reach, offering a platform for clubs from all confederations to compete at the highest level.
FIFA’s goal is to create a more inclusive and lucrative competition. The expanded format allows more teams from regions like South America, Africa, Asia, and North America to test their mettle against European giants. With a $1 billion prize poolthe tournament is the most financially rewarding in club football, with the winner potentially earning up to $125 million. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has compared its significance to the inaugural 1930 World Cup, heralding it as a “new era” for the sport.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup adopts a World Cup-style format, consisting of a group stage followed by a knockout phase. Here’s how it works:
Group Stage: The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four. Each team plays three matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Round of 16.
Knockout Phase: From the Round of 16 to the final, matches are single-elimination. There is no third-place playofffocusing attention on the grand final.
Duration: The tournament spans from June 14 to July 13, 2025with 63 matches played in total.
Coming: Twelve stadiums across the U.S., including Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (opener) and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (final), will host matches. Other venues include the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and stadiums in Los Angeles, Seattle, and various eastern cities.
The 32 teams represent six confederations: UEFA (Europe), CONMEBOL (South America), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), CONCACAF (North America), and OFC (Oceania). Qualification was based on performances from 2021 to 2024, with some slots determined by continental championships or coefficient rankings.
UEFA (12 teams): Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Salzburg.
CONMEBOL (6 teams): Flamengo, Fluminense, Palmeiras, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Independiente del Valle.
CAF (4 teams): Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns.
AFC (4 teams): Al Hilal, Ulsan HD, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain.
CONCACAF (4 teams): Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders, LAFC, Monterrey.
OFC (1 team): Auckland City.
Host (1 team): Inter Miami (qualified as MLS representative).
Despite the star-studded lineup, some prominent clubs didn’t qualify due to FIFA’s qualification criteria or the two-team-per-nation rule. Notable absences include:
Barcelona: Excluded due to Spain’s slots being filled by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool: Missed out despite strong performances, as UEFA’s coefficient rankings favored other clubs.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Milan: Failed to meet qualification standards.
Al nassr: Cristiano Ronaldo’s club didn’t secure a spot for AFC.
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