FIFA Club World Cup 2025 official tournament bracket and teams overview
Global Club Showdown: What to Expect from the Revamped FIFA Club World Cup 2025

From June 14 to July 13, 2025, the United States will host the biggest Club World Cup in history — the first edition to feature 32 teams from all six FIFA confederations. It’s a long-awaited upgrade that promises a month-long football festival in the offseason.

What Is the New FIFA Club World Cup?

Previously, the tournament was far more modest. Its predecessor, the Intercontinental Cup, consisted of a single match between the UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores winners. Later versions of the Club World Cup added more teams, but only now has the tournament truly gone global.

The concept of expanding the Club World Cup came from FIFA President Gianni Infantino back in 2016, but plans were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, in 2025, the new format is finally becoming a reality.

Tournament Structure

To accommodate 32 teams, FIFA introduced a brand-new format with strict continental allocations:

Selection was based on club performance in continental competitions over the past four years. Continental champions qualified automatically, while other clubs were selected based on coefficient rankings. Notably, no more than two clubs per country could qualify from Europe, meaning no Barcelona or Liverpool this time.

Group Stage Format

The 32 clubs are split into eight groups of four, with each team playing three group matches. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 16. Tiebreakers include head-to-head results, goal difference, and other standard criteria.

To keep balance, group winners from UEFA and CONMEBOL won’t face each other until the semifinals. The knockout stage continues until the final.

Group Draw

Here’s how the groups look after the draw:

  • Group A: Palmeiras (Brazil), Porto (Portugal), Al Ahly (Egypt), Inter Miami (USA)
  • Group B: PSG (France), Atlético Madrid (Spain), Botafogo (Brazil), Seattle Sounders (USA)
  • Group C: Bayern Munich (Germany), Auckland City (New Zealand), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Benfica (Portugal)
  • Group D: Flamengo (Brazil), Espérance (Tunisia), Chelsea (England), LAFC (USA)
  • Group E: River Plate (Argentina), Urawa Reds (Japan), Monterrey (Mexico), Inter Milan (Italy)
  • Group F: Fluminense (Brazil), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Ulsan HD (South Korea), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
  • Group G: Manchester City (England), Wydad (Morocco), Al Ain (UAE), Juventus (Italy)
  • Group H: Real Madrid (Spain), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Pachuca (Mexico), Salzburg (Austria)

Host Cities and Stadiums

Matches will take place in 11 American cities, on 12 stadiums — many of which are also slated to host games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

  • Audi Field (Washington, 20,000)
  • Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, 25,000)
  • TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, 26,000)
  • Geodis Park (Nashville, 30,109)
  • Camping World Stadium (Orlando, 66,000)
  • Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, 65,000)
  • Lumen Field (Seattle, 69,000)
  • Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, 69,176)
  • Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, 71,000)
  • Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, 74,867)
  • Rose Bowl (Pasadena, 88,500)
  • MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, 82,500) — the final venue

Who Are the Favorites?

It’s hard to make solid predictions given the unpredictability of post-season form. Still, bookmakers currently rate Real Madrid as the leading favorite, followed by Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

However, analytics powerhouse Opta places PSG as the top contender, citing their impressive spring run and recent UEFA Champions League title.

Prize Money and Motivation

If you fear the tournament might feel like a glorified friendly, consider this: the total prize pool is €1 billion, with the winner receiving €125 million. That kind of reward is enough to guarantee serious competition — and potentially unforgettable matches.

Published by Patrick Jane
11.06.2025