The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will mark a milestone in football history by introducing a revamped format and unprecedented participation. Scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, this tournament will bring together 32 of the world’s best clubs, competing for the prestigious title of world champion. It will overshadow the Intercontinental Cup, as this new Club World Cup will only be held every four years.
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Club World Cup format
Inspired by the traditional FIFA World Cup structure for national teams, the tournament will be divided into two main phases:
Group Stage: The 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four clubs each. Each team will play three matches in a round-robin format within its group. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.
Knockout Stage: This phase will consist of the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and the Grand Final. Matches will be played in a single-elimination format, and if a match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout will determine the winner. No third-place match will be played.
Participating teams
The 32 available spots have been allocated among the continental federations as follows:
UEFA (12 teams): Chelsea & Manchester City (England); Real Madrid & Atlético de Madrid (Spain); Bayern & Borussia Dortmund (Germany); Porto & Benfica (Portugal); Inter & Juventus (Italy); PSG (France); RB Salzburg (Austria).
CONMEBOL (6 teams): Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense & Botafogo (Brazil); River Plate & Boca Juniors (Argentina).
CONCACAF (4 teams): Monterrey, León & Pachuca (Mexico); Seattle Sounders & Inter Miami (USA).
AFC (4 teams): Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia); Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan); Al-Ain (UAE); Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea).
CAF (4 teams): Al-Ahly (Egypt); Wydad Casablanca (Morocco); Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia); Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).
OFC (1 team): Auckland City (New Zealand).
Host Nation (1 team): Inter Miami (USA).
Club World Cup host venues
Twelve stadiums in eleven U.S. cities will host the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 matches:
MetLife Stadium: East Rutherford, New Jersey. Final venue.
Hard Rock Stadium: Miami, Florida. Opening match venue.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Atlanta, Georgia.
Bank of America Stadium: Charlotte, North Carolina.
TQL Stadium: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Rose Bowl: Pasadena, California.
Lumen Field: Seattle, Washington.
Camping World Stadium: Orlando, Florida.
Inter&Co Stadium: Orlando, Florida.
Lincoln Financial Field: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Audi Field: Washington, D.C.
GEODIS Park: Nashville, Tennessee.
Club World Cup information
In a groundbreaking move, FIFA has signed an agreement with streaming platform DAZN to broadcast all 63 matches of the tournament live and for free worldwide. This agreement ensures that fans around the globe can enjoy the tournament at no cost, with broadcasts in multiple languages.
The United States will host the two biggest football events within just a year: the FIFA World Cup and the Club World Cup. This means an unprecedented logistical and organizational effort, but the U.S. appears to be ready for the challenge.
What can football expect from this World Cup?
The Club World Cup promises to be an unparalleled spectacle, bringing together the elite of world football in a competition that will blend tradition and innovation. Preparations are underway to ensure an unforgettable experience for both the players and the fans, whether they attend the matches in the stadiums or follow them from home.
With the participation of historic clubs and the promise of epic matchups, this tournament is shaping up to be one of the most significant sporting events of the year. While the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will bring together the best teams on the planet, institutions like SIA Academy continue to work tirelessly in developing the future stars of these grand stages, ensuring that football keeps evolving and delivering top-quality entertainment worldwide.
Innovation in football is constant. Events like this Club World Cup emerge periodically, providing more opportunities and excitement. For this to continue, it is essential to foster young footballers’ development properly, ensuring that the sport remains a benchmark of excellence for fans around the world.
