A Complete Guide to FIFA Club World Cup 2025: The Tournament That Redefines Global Football

This summer marks the dawn of a bold chapter in international club football. Officially titled Club World Cup 2025, the tournament has been reimagined on a grander scale, both in format and ambition. Starting at the turn of the millennium, FIFA founded its own FIFA Club World Championship—a mix of eight champions from multi-league European or international play—from the UEFA Champions League to the AFC Asian Super Cup to the valuable CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores. Europe has won the most titles so far, with sixteen UEFA teams and four CONMEBOL teams taking home the trophy.

With the 2025 event, FIFA decided to make changes that were improved.  The 32-team event that was supposed to happen in China in 2021 had to be pushed back because of COVID. Thus, FIFA wants to rehost the reinvented challenge in the United States, in what it promises will be a historical moment for club football.

A Familiar Format, Reimagined

The Club World Cup 25 is set up like the FIFA World Cup: it has eight groups of four teams each, and the top two clubs from each group move on to the Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Finals. There will be no Third Place Match, as occurs in FIFA.

The following teams are already predetermined to enter based on standings:

• UEFA (12): Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Real Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg
• CONMEBOL (6): Boca Juniors, Botafogo FR, Flamengo, Fluminense, Palmeiras, River Plate
• AFC (4): Al Ain, Al-Hilal, Ulsan Hyundai, Urawa Red Diamonds
• CAF (4): Al Ahly, Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad Athletic Club
• CONCACAF (4): Los Angeles FC, Monterrey, Pachuca, Seattle Sounders FC
• OFC (1): Auckland City
• Host Nation (1): Inter Miami CF, co-owned by David Beckham

Los Angeles FC clinched the final spot in dramatic fashion on May 31, edging Club América 2-1 in extra time. Yet the tournament has already had its share of controversy: Club León, initially qualified, was disqualified due to conflicts over multi-club ownership regulations, with FIFA confirming their removal. Pachuca, despite being under the same ownership umbrella, retains its place.

The Groups in Detail:

Group A – Palmeiras to lead, but can Inter Miami spring a surprise?

A potent mix of flair and pedigree defines Group A. Palmeiras are clear favourites, while Inter Miami — spearheaded by Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez — will be tested against Egypt’s battle-hardened Al Ahly and a Porto side eager to restore its reputation after a dismal campaign.

Fixtures:

• June 14: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami (Miami)
• June 15: Palmeiras vs Porto (New York/NJ)
• June 19: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly (New York/NJ)
• June 19: Inter Miami vs Porto (Atlanta)
• June 23: Inter Miami vs Palmeiras (Miami)
• June 23: Porto vs Al Ahly (New York/NJ)

Group B – PSG and Atlético Madrid headline the ‘Group of Death’

Two titans of European football face rugged opponents in Botafogo and the Seattle Sounders. While PSG contemplates a post-Champions League final hangover and Atlético navigates its trademark grit, the Americans and Brazilians are poised to pounce on any slip.

Fixtures:

• June 15: PSG vs Atletico (Pasadena)
• June 15: Seattle Sounders vs Botafogo (Seattle)
• June 19: Sounders vs Atletico (Seattle)
• June 19: PSG vs Botafogo (Pasadena)
• June 26: Sounders vs PSG (Seattle)
• June 26: Atletico vs Botafogo (Pasadena)

Group C – Bayern’s might vs Auckland’s romantic ambition

Auckland City, the amateurs who stunned the world with a third-place finish in 2014, find themselves up against Bayern Munich, Benfica, and Boca Juniors. A David vs Goliath narrative, if ever there was one.

Fixtures:

• June 15: Bayern vs Auckland City (Cincinnati)
• June 16: Boca vs Benfica (Miami)
• June 20: Benfica vs Auckland (Orlando)
• June 20: Bayern vs Boca (Miami)
• June 26: Auckland vs Boca (Nashville)
• June 26: Benfica vs Bayern (Charlotte)

Group D – Chelsea and Flamengo poised to dominate

LAFC join Chelsea, Flamengo, and Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis. The Anglo-Brazilian clash on June 20 could be decisive, while the others fight uphill battles against Europe and South America’s elite.

Fixtures:

• June 16: Chelsea vs LAFC (Atlanta)
• June 16: Flamengo vs Esperance (Philadelphia)
• June 20: Flamengo vs Chelsea (Philadelphia)
• June 20: LAFC vs Esperance (Nashville)
• June 24: LAFC vs Flamengo (Orlando)
• June 24: Esperance vs Chelsea (Philadelphia)

Group E – Inter Milan leads a tight four-way battle

Italian giants Inter Milan top a group featuring River Plate, Monterrey, and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. River’s pedigree gives them a strong case for second, though Monterrey could disrupt the order.

Fixtures:

• June 17: River Plate vs Urawa (Seattle)
• June 17: Monterrey vs Inter (Los Angeles)
• June 21: Inter vs Urawa (Seattle)
• June 21: River vs Monterrey (Los Angeles)
• June 25: Inter vs River (Seattle)
• June 25: Urawa vs Monterrey (Los Angeles)

Group F – Dortmund favourites, but Brazil and Africa could shine

Dortmund meet Brazil’s Fluminense, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, and South Korea’s Ulsan HD. With all four teams bringing form and flair, the group could deliver some of the tournament’s most unexpected outcomes.

Fixtures:

• June 17: Fluminense vs Dortmund (New Jersey)
• June 17: Ulsan HD vs Sundowns (Orlando)
• June 21: Sundowns vs Dortmund (Cincinnati)
• June 21: Fluminense vs Ulsan HD (New Jersey)
• June 25: Dortmund vs Ulsan HD (Cincinnati)
• June 25: Sundowns vs Fluminense (Florida)

Group G – Can Guardiola and City find redemption?

Manchester City, Juventus, Wydad AC, and Al Ain form a group heavy with history and ambition. City, with the memory of a December defeat to Juventus still fresh, may be out for vengeance.

Fixtures:

• June 18: City vs Wydad (Philadelphia)
• June 18: Al Ain vs Juventus (Washington)
• June 22: Juventus vs Wydad (Philadelphia)
• June 22: City vs Al Ain (Atlanta)
• June 26: Juventus vs City (Orlando)
• June 26: Wydad vs Al Ain (Washington)

Group H – Real Madrid leads, but Al Hilal are no pushovers

Real Madrid, now under new manager Xabi Alonso, face a dangerous Al Hilal, Mexico’s Pachuca, and Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg. Al Hilal, stocked with stars, could yet surprise the Spanish champions.

Fixtures:

• June 18: Real Madrid vs Al Hilal (Miami)
• June 18: Pachuca vs Salzburg (Cincinnati)
• June 22: Real Madrid vs Pachuca (Charlotte)
• June 22: Salzburg vs Al Hilal (Washington)
• June 26: Al Hilal vs Pachuca (Nashville)
• June 26: Salzburg vs Madrid (Philadelphia)

$1 Billion in Prize Money

An unprecedented $1 billion prize pool has been earmarked, with $525 million distributed among the 32 participants just for showing up. The remaining $475 million will be performance-based. Key bonuses include:

• $2M per group win
• $7.5M for Round of 16 qualification
• $13.125M for Quarter-Finals
• $21M for Semi-Finals
• $30M for the Final
• $40M to the Champion

A club that wins at least two group-stage matches and goes all the way is projected to net approximately $125 million.

Host Cities and Stadiums

With twelve venues across eleven U.S. cities, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the ultimate Final where over 82-thousand fans can enjoy.

Stadium	City	Capacity
Rose Bowl	Pasadena (LA)	88,500
MetLife Stadium	East Rutherford (NY)	82,500
Bank of America Stadium	Charlotte	75,000
Mercedes-Benz Stadium	Atlanta	75,000
Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia	69,000
Lumen Field	Seattle	69,000
Hard Rock Stadium	Miami Gardens	65,000
Camping World Stadium	Orlando	65,000
Geodis Park	Nashville	30,000
TQL Stadium	Cincinnati	26,000
Inter&Co Stadium	Orlando	25,000
Audi Field	Washington D.C.	20,000

Transfer Window Adjustments

In light of the tournament’s scale, Premier League clubs have approved an early transfer window opening (June 1–10), followed by a pause and a reopening on June 16. The final day for transfers will be September 1.

Technological Innovations

FIFA is turning the Club World Cup 2025 into a testing ground for officiating technology. For the first time ever, referees will wear body cameras, with selected footage broadcast to fans. Meanwhile, an upgraded semi-automated offside detection system — combining AI, multiple camera angles, and smart ball sensors — will streamline decisions while keeping VAR as a final validator.

Robbie Williams Joins the Show

The Club World Cup also brings a dose of pop culture flair. Robbie Williams, FIFA’s new music ambassador, will perform during the tournament. After appearing at the launch event earlier this year, he is set to return to the stage during the main event this summer, bringing entertainment to the heart of the beautiful game.

From tactical chess matches to cultural showcases, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be more than a tournament — it’s a redefinition of global club competition, played on a stage as vast and varied as the sport itself.