Things to Know About the FIFA Club World Cup 2025
The draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will take place in Miami on Thursday, with officials unveiling the first-round groups for the 32 teams participating. The expanded tournament will be held across the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. Here are the key facts and figures surrounding the event:
• HISTORY
The idea of a tournament to crown the world’s greatest club team has been around for over 50 years. The Intercontinental Cup, which pitted the European champions against South American champions, was seen as the de facto world club championship from its inception in 1960. It was here that Real Madrid, with Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas, defeated Uruguay’s Penarol.
In 2000, FIFA introduced its own version, the Club World Cup, with an eight-team tournament held in Brazil, where Corinthians triumphed at the Maracana Stadium. Recent editions have featured seven teams. The 2025 tournament will be the largest in history, with 32 teams competing.
• WHO’S PLAYING
The tournament will feature 32 teams, with Europe sending 12 teams, South America six, and four each from Africa, Asia, and CONCACAF (North and Central America, Caribbean). Oceania will contribute one team, and the host nation, the United States, will have an additional slot.
Teams:
- Africa: Al Ahly (EGY), Wydad (MAR), Es Tunis (TUN), Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
- Asia: Al Hilal (KSA), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN), Al Ain (UAE), Ulsan HD FC (KOR)
- Europe: Chelsea (ENG), Real Madrid (ESP), Manchester City (ENG), Bayern Munich (GER), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Inter Milan (ITA), Porto (POR), Benfica (POR), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Juventus (ITA), Atletico Madrid (ESP), RB Salzburg (AUT)
- North, Central America, and Caribbean: Monterrey (MEX), Seattle Sounders (USA), Club Leon (MEX), Pachuca (MEX)
- Oceania: Auckland City (NZL)
- South America: Palmeiras (BRA), Flamengo (BRA), Fluminense (BRA), Botafogo (BRA), River Plate (ARG), Boca Juniors (ARG)
- Host nation: Inter Miami (USA)
• STADIUMS
A total of 12 venues will host 63 matches across the United States. Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will stage the tournament’s opening game, while the final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey/New York. The full list of venues includes:
- 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.
• FORMAT
The 2025 Club World Cup will follow a format similar to the World Cup from 1998 to 2022. The 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four, with a round-robin phase. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, which will be a single-elimination format through to the final. There will be no third-place playoff.
