The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be a thrilling and historic milestone in the global football landscape. For the first time, FIFA’s premier club competition will expand to a full 32-team format, replicating the scale and the spectacle of the men’s World Cup. The Club World Cup will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, with the tournament made up of the world’s best clubs from six confederations, in what FIFA are describing as the new pinnacle of club competition.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has labelled this reimagined edition a “game-changer,” aiming to raise the status of the Club World Cup. The tournament will feature teams that have won or performed exceptionally and consistently well in their respective continental competitions from 2021 to 2024.
Tournament Format
The revamped Club World Cup will follow a structure similar to the FIFA World Cup. The 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four, with each team playing three group games. The top two sides from each group will advance to the Round of 16, followed by the standard knockout rounds, culminating in the final.
Unlike previous versions of Club World Cups, which were short events involving only continental champions and one-off knockout games, this edition offers a more balanced approach. The tournament spans close to a month, giving clubs the time they need to acclimatise and compete.
A key difference, however, is that this competition will no longer be held annually. Instead, the Club World Cup will take place every four years, much like the FIFA Men’s World Cup. The former version of the seven-team Club World Cup has now been discontinued.
Qualified Teams & Continental Breakdown
FIFA allocated the 32 slots based on continental strength and representation. Below is how the places have been distributed and which teams will play in the Club World Cup this summer:
UEFA (12 Teams)
Europe dominates the entry list, as you would expect, with a dozen teams qualifying primarily through Champions League success and club coefficient rankings. These clubs are:
- Manchester City (2022/23 Champions League winners)
- Chelsea (2020/21 Champions League winners)
- Real Madrid (2021/22 Champions League winners)
- Bayern Munich
- Inter Milan
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Porto
- Atletico Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund
- Juventus
- Red Bull Salzburg
- Benfica
UEFA’s approach allowed multiple teams to qualify based on their consistent performances in Europe over the four-year window.
CONMEBOL (6 Teams)
South America’s powerhouses will bring flair and firepower to the competition, with Copa Libertadores winners and top-ranked clubs represented:
- Palmeiras (2021 winners)
- Flamengo (2022 winners)
- Fluminense (2023 winners)
- Botafogo
- River Plate
- Boca Juniors
These teams enter the Club World Cup with the pedigree of fierce domestic rivalries and a hunger to challenge Europe’s dominance.
AFC (4 Teams)
The Asian contingent includes:
- Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
- Al Ain (UAE, 2023/24 Asian Champions League winners)
- Ulsan HD (South Korea)
Al Hilal, in particular, boosted by big-name signings in recent seasons, could pose a threat later in the competition.
CAF (4 Teams)
African representation includes:
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
- Sundowns (South Africa)
- Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
Al Ahly, with a record 11 CAF Champions League titles to their name, remain the continent’s standout team on the global stage.
CONCACAF (4 Teams)
The North and Central American teams are:
- Monterrey
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Pachuca
- Los Angeles FC
Inter Miami CF of the MLS will also participate in the competition, serving as “hosts” and enabling FIFA to shoehorn Lionel Messi into their new global competition.
OFC (1 Team)
Oceania’s lone representative will be Auckland City of New Zealand, a dominant force in the OFC Champions League, having won multiple titles.
The Groups
The groups for the 2025 Club World Cup are as follows:
Group A
- Palmeiras (Brazil)
- FC Porto (Portugal)
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Inter Miami CF (USA)
Group B
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Atletico Madrid (Spain)
- Botafogo (Brazil)
- Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
Group C
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Boca Juniors (Argentina)
- Auckland City (New Zealand)
Group D
- Flamengo (Brazil)
- Chelsea (England)
- Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
- Los Angeles FC (USA)
Group E
- River Plate (Argentina)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Monterrey (Mexico)
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
Group F
- Fluminense (Brazil)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Ulsan HD FC (South Korea)
- Sundowns (South Africa)
Group G
- Manchester City (England)
- Juventus (Italy)
- Wydad AC (Morocco)
- Al Ain (UAE)
Group H
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
- Pachuca (Mexico)
- Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
Key Matches to Watch
There are some excellent matches scheduled for the group stage of the competition. As always, fans will have the opportunity to place wagers on the action throughout the tournament thanks to FIFA Club World Cup betting markets online.
Here are some of the standout fixtures to be played in the opening rounds of the tournament:
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid: A clash between the European champions, an attacking side, against a defensively sound opponent.
- Palmeiras vs FC Porto: A match between two teams who are always there or thereabouts in their respective leagues. They’re very evenly matched.
- Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca: After somewhat of a disappointing season, it will be interesting to see how Man City and Pep Guardiola approach this one.
- Real Madrid vs Al Hilal: An interesting fixture as both teams have star players in their ranks. It will also be the first match Xabi Alonso takes charge of as Real Madrid manager.
Players to Watch
The tournament will showcase some of the world’s top talents:
- Estêvão (Palmeiras): Teenage winger sensation who will join Chelsea after the tournament.
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea): One of the best players in the Premier League. A creative genius.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid): Real Madrid have paid £10 million to have him join early, ready for this tournament.
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): A proven goal-getter at the very top level.
- Ousmane Dembele (PSG): The best player for PSG in their treble-winning campaign.
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF): He’s still a genius and is playing on home soil.
What to Expect
It will come as no surprise that the leading teams from Europe, such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain, top the FIFA Club World Cup Outright Winner betting market. The teams from Europe are expected to dominate, and they should, as there are more of them from that region than any other.
However, it’s also worth taking into account that teams will be rotated due to the seasons players have had already. There will also be travel demands to consider, as well as the climate. While a European team is expected to win, it’s not a foregone conclusion.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marks a new chapter in club football due to its expansion. With an expanded format and huge prize money up for grabs, it’s a competition teams will want to make sure they win. Fans worldwide will be able to tune in and watch the action, with the world’s best teams and players taking part. BetVictor sports betting is the place to be for full coverage of the tournament.
