The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup represents a revolutionary expansion of soccer's premier club competition.
For the first time, 32 teams from six confederations will compete in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, creating the most comprehensive global club tournament in football history.
Tournament Format and Structure
The tournament is scheduled to be played in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. It is planned to be the first under an expanded format with 32 teams, including the winners of the four previous continental championships.
The 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four teams with the top two teams in each group qualifying to the knockout stage.
The distribution model splits a total prize pool of US$1 billion between the 32 participating clubs. The winner of the tournament will be awarded up to US$125 million, marking a significant increase in financial rewards compared to previous editions.
European Representatives (UEFA) - 12 Teams
Europe has 12 clubs in the 32-team tournament and the spaces are allocated based on performances in the Champions League over four seasons from 2020/21 up to and including this season.
Champions League Winners:
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Real Madrid (Spain) - 2022 Champions League winners
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Manchester City (England) - 2023 Champions League winners, defending Club World Cup champions
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Chelsea (England) - 2021 Champions League winners
UEFA Coefficient Rankings:
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Bayern Munich (Germany)
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Paris Saint-Germain (France)
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Inter Milan (Italy)
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Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
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Atletico Madrid (Spain)
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Benfica (Portugal)
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Juventus (Italy)
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RB Salzburg (Austria)
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FC Porto (Portugal)
South American Representatives (CONMEBOL) - 6 Teams
Copa Libertadores Winners:
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Palmeiras (Brazil) - 2021 Copa Libertadores winners
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Flamengo (Brazil) - 2022 Copa Libertadores winners
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Fluminense (Brazil) - 2023 Copa Libertadores winners
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Botafogo (Brazil) - 2024 Copa Libertadores winners
CONMEBOL Rankings:
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Boca Juniors (Argentina)
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River Plate (Argentina)
North American Representatives (CONCACAF) - 5 Teams
CONCACAF ordinarily will have four slots, but avails of an extra one in 2025 due to hosting duties.
CONCACAF Champions League Winners:
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Monterrey (Mexico) - 2021 CONCACAF Champions League winners
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Seattle Sounders FC (USA) - 2022 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners
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CF Pachuca (Mexico) - 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners
Host Country Representative:
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Inter Miami CF (USA) - 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield winners
TBD Participant:
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LAFC vs Club América playoff winner - To be decided May 31, 2025
Latest Development: León Disqualification
León was originally set to participate in the tournament as winner of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.
However, the team was removed from the tournament by the FIFA Appeal Committee on March 21, 2025, due to violating the rules on multi-club ownership, as León and Pachuca have the same owner.
MLS club LAFC and Liga MX side América will face off on May 31 at LAFC's BMO Stadium for the right to replace León at the Club World Cup.
African Representatives (CAF) - 4 Teams
CAF Champions League Winners:
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Al Ahly (Egypt) - 2021 CAF Champions League winners
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Wydad AC (Morocco) - 2022 CAF Champions League winners
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Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) - 2023 CAF Champions League winners
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Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) - 2024 CAF Champions League winners
Asian Representatives (AFC) - 4 Teams
AFC Champions League Winners:
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Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) - 2021 AFC Champions League winners
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Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) - 2022 AFC Champions League winners
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Al Ain (UAE) - 2024 AFC Champions League winners
AFC Rankings:
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Ulsan HD (South Korea)
Oceanian Representative (OFC) - 1 Team
OFC Champions League:
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Auckland City FC (New Zealand) - OFC's highest-ranked representative
Group Stage Draw Results
The draw for the 2025 Club World Cup took place on December 5, 2024. The eight groups are:
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), Auckland City FC (New Zealand), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Benfica (Portugal)
Group D: Flamengo (Brazil), Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia), Chelsea (England), TBD (LAFC/Club América winner)
Group E: River Plate (Argentina), Urawa Red Diamonds (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 AC (Morocco), Al Ain (UAE), Juventus (Italy)
Group H: Real Madrid (Spain), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), CF Pachuca (Mexico), RB Salzburg (Austria)
Venues and Host Cities
The 2025 Club World Cup takes place in the United States across 12 stadiums:
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Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
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Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
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TQL Stadium (Cincinnati)
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MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
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Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles)
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Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
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GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tennessee)
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Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
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Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando)
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Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
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Lumen Field (Seattle)
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Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
Prize Money and Financial Structure
The winners of the Club World Cup will receive up to £97m ($125m) from FIFA. Prize money of £774m ($1bn) is to be shared between the 32 clubs - with a £406m ($525m) participation fee shared based on sporting and commercial criteria, and £368m ($475m) shared based on sporting performance.
Distribution breakdown:
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Sporting performance pillar (US$475 million): Increasing payouts based on tournament performance
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Participation pillar (US$525 million): Guaranteed payments to all 32 clubs
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Solidarity payments (US$250 million): Additional payments to support clubs worldwide
Qualification Methodology
The qualification criteria take note of the past four seasons of the confederation's relevant premier club competition and grants points starting from the group stage of the tournament.
UEFA has laid out a specific methodology based on Champions League coefficient rankings over four seasons from 2020/21 to 2023/24.
Broadcasting and Media Coverage
DAZN will broadcast every minute from the event, with all 63 matches live-streamed, free to view on DAZN globally, and in multiple languages.
FIFA published media rights tenders for the Americas, Asia, and Middle East & North Africa after talks with Apple over an exclusive $1 billion global rights deal reportedly stalled.
Transfer Window Innovation
U.S. Soccer has reportedly authorized the opening of a transfer window from June 1-10 for the MLS teams who will be playing in the 2025 FIFA World Cup - Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders, and potentially, LAFC.
This aligns with FIFA's decision to open a brief window in Europe during the same period, allowing teams to bolster rosters ahead of the tournament.
Historical Context and Significance
Manchester City is the defending champion, having won its first title in the last tournament under the old format in 2023.
The expanded tournament format was announced in March 2019 and originally scheduled to be hosted by China in 2021 until postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This represents the most ambitious expansion in club football history, bringing together champions and elite clubs from every inhabited continent in a single tournament that promises to crown the true world champion of club football.
Key Dates and Timeline
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May 31, 2025: LAFC vs Club América playoff for final CONCACAF spot
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June 1-10, 2025: Special transfer window opens
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June 15, 2025: Tournament begins
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July 13, 2025: Final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be a watershed moment in club football, combining the world's elite teams in an unprecedented format that will determine the true global champion while generating historic prize money and global exposure for participating clubs.
Conclusion
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup represents a transformative moment in global club football, elevating the competition from a relatively niche December tournament to a summer spectacle rivaling the FIFA World Cup itself.
With 32 teams representing every corner of the football world, the tournament promises to deliver unprecedented competitive depth and global engagement.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will ultimately determine whether FIFA's ambitious expansion vision can create a sustainable and compelling global competition, or if the traditional continental model remains superior.
Regardless of long-term success, the confirmed 32 teams guarantee a summer of world-class football that will reshape perceptions of club football's global hierarchy and create lasting memories for players and fans across six continents.