The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will have a very different format than its past iterations. The event was previously held every year with seven participating clubs, but next season it will be expanded to include 32 teams from six continental confederations.
“Thirty-two of the best clubs from all corners of the world will be competing in the United States in June and July 2025,” Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA said. “They are at the heart of the tournament. And we cannot wait. Thirty-two of the best clubs globally will meet on the world stage and only one will be crowned world champions.”
A month-long tournament across the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, will mark the culmination of the new system. With this enlarged format, the world’s top teams will compete for the coveted title in the international competition, which is expected to be a worldwide showcase of top club football.
FIFA Expands Club World Cup Format to Now Host 32 Teams
In the past, the seven teams that competed in the Club World Cup were the national league champions of the host country and the winners of the continental league on six continents.The six continents involved were Europe (UEFA), South America (CONMEBOL), Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North America (CONCACAF) and Oceania (OFC).
The 32 teams will now include 12 clubs from Europe, 6 teams from South America, 4 teams from Africa and Asia, 5 from North America, and 1 from Oceania, as the 2025 edition brings new additions.
Alongside Premier League clubs Manchester City and Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern, Paris Saint Germain, Inter Milan and Porto will be participating from Europe. They will be joined by Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Red Bull Salzburg, and Atletico Madrid, all from the European continent.
While Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid were picked based on their winning the Club World Cup over the last 3 seasons, other European Clubs qualified through coefficient rankings.
Other participating clubs in the tournament include Auckland City, Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Botafogo. These teams will be representing the CONMEBOL confederation. Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Lein, and Pachuca are the other teams from North America.
Similarly, Al Ahly, Wydad, Esperance de Tunis, and Mamelodi Sundowns are the teams from Africa. Asia has Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain and Ulsan HD competing against strong international rivals.
Messi’s Inter Miami Join List of Participating Teams After Record Breaking Season
On October 20, 2024, Major League Soccer side and Lionel Messi’s club, Inter Miami, were confirmed participants in the 2025 Club World Cup. The club’s participation came on the back of winning the 2024 MLS Supporter’s Shield, typically given to the club in the MLS with the best regular game season.
Inter Miami had also won the 2023 Leagues Cup, and a splendid Lionel Messi performance saw the club break the MLS’ regular season point record in 2024. Earlier in his career, Messi won the Club World Cup thrice in 2009, 2011, and 2015.
The MLS giants will take on Egyptian side Al Ahly at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in the opening match of the tournament. Other teams in Inter Miami’s group include Palmeiras and Porto.
If they make it past the group stages, Inter Miami stars Messi, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez all of whom previously played for Barcelona may face off with old European rivals.
Continental Football Giants to Face Off Against Each Other in 12 Stadiums
The 2025 Club World Cup tournament will take place across 12 stadiums in the United States, and they are as follows:
- MetLife Stadium (New Jersey)
- Mercedes Benz Stadium (Atalanta)
- Audi Field (Washington DC)
- Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
- Lumen Field (Seattle)
- TQL Stadium (Cincinnati)
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
- Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles)
- Inter & Co Stadium (Orlando)
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
- Camping World Stadium (Orlando)
- GEODIS Park (Nashville)
DAZN, the world’s largest sports streaming platform, will be the sole broadcaster of the event when it kicks off.
“This groundbreaking deal with FIFA is a major milestone in DAZN’s journey to be the ultimate entertainment platform of choice for sports fans everywhere. We’re delighted to have the exclusive rights to this new chapter in global club soccer, marking the start of our long-term relationship with FIFA and cementing our status as the home of soccer,” Chief Executive Officer of DAZN, Shay Segev said.
“We’re committed to ensuring that every fan can watch every moment of the thrilling action from this new prime club tournament.”
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