FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Preview
A New Era of Global Club Football Begins in the USA
For years, the FIFA Club World Cup has felt more like a formality than a fierce competition, a December distraction dominated by Europe’s elite. But in 2025, that all changes. The revamped FIFA Club World Cup lands in the United States with a bold new format, 32 teams, and a promise: to crown the true kings of club football.
Running from June 15 to July 13, the 2025 edition will be the tournament's biggest shakeup yet, turning what was once a week-long mini-event into a full-fledged global spectacle more akin to the World Cup itself.
The biggest change is the expanded format. Instead of the seven-team lineup from previous years, the 2025 tournament will feature 32 clubs from around the world, divided into eight groups of four, with the top two in each group advancing to a knockout round of 16. It’s a month-long, World Cup-style format - same structure, new stakes.
The tournament will be hosted across multiple cities in the United States, making it a dress rehearsal of sorts ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Clubs qualified based on their success in continental competitions from 2021 to 2024, with some places given via FIFA’s club ranking system.
Here are some of the biggest names confirmed to take part:
Real Madrid (Spain): As 2021–22 UEFA Champions League winners and perennial contenders, Los Blancos bring pedigree, pressure, and possibly Kylian Mbappé.
Manchester City (England): Pep Guardiola's treble-winners are hungry for more global silverware and will be among the favorites.
Chelsea FC (England): Their 2020–21 UCL title books their ticket; a rebuilt squad will want to prove itself on a global stage.
Flamengo & Palmeiras (Brazil): CONMEBOL giants who are no strangers to big matches and even bigger atmospheres.
Al Ahly SC (Egypt): Africa’s most successful club will relish a chance to shine against global competition.
Seattle Sounders (USA): As the first MLS side to win the CONCACAF Champions League, the Sounders will have home support and something to prove.
Monterrey & León (Mexico): Mexico’s proud representatives will aim to disrupt the dominance of European and South American clubs.
A total of 12 UEFA clubs, 6 from CONMEBOL, and representatives from each confederation will compete, along with one host nation spot filled by an American club.
Why It Matters
For FIFA, this is more than a tournament, it’s a global play for club football relevance and revenue. But for fans, it could finally deliver on the dream of seeing intercontinental club clashes that matter, with elite teams fighting for more than just friendly bragging rights.
Think: City vs. Flamengo, Madrid vs. Al Ahly, or Bayern vs. Club América - all in knockout matches that count.
It’s also a massive opportunity for clubs from Africa, Asia, and North America to prove they belong in the conversation and possibly upset the long-held dominance of European and South American giants.
Key Storylines to Watch
Can European clubs handle the travel and summer schedule without sacrificing domestic preparation?
Will South American clubs benefit from the knockout format and warmer climates?
Can MLS clubs or Liga MX sides ride home-field advantage into the knockout rounds?
Which breakout stars will use the tournament to launch global careers?
Final Thoughts
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is shaping up to be more than just a new tournament, it could reshape the global football calendar and redefine what it means to be the best club in the world.
The stakes are real. The format is fierce. The spotlight is global.
For the first time, the world of club football is coming together, not for exhibition, but for supremacy.
I don’t know about everyone else but we are excited !
Full List of Qualified Teams
UEFA (Europe) – 12 Teams
Manchester City (England)
Real Madrid (Spain)
Chelsea (England)
Bayern Munich (Germany)
Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Inter Milan (Italy)
Porto (Portugal)
Benfica (Portugal)
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Juventus (Italy)
Atlético Madrid (Spain)
Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
CONMEBOL (South America) – 6 Teams
Palmeiras (Brazil)
Flamengo (Brazil)
Fluminense (Brazil)
Botafogo (Brazil)
River Plate (Argentina)
Boca Juniors (Argentina)
CONCACAF (North & Central America) – 4 Teams
Monterrey (Mexico)
Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
Pachuca (Mexico)
Los Angeles FC (USA)
CAF (Africa) – 4 Teams
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Wydad AC (Morocco)
Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
AFC (Asia) – 4 Teams
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
Ulsan HD (South Korea)
OFC (Oceania) – 1 Team
Auckland City (New Zealand)
Host Nation (USA) – 1 Team
Inter Miami CF (USA)
