Everything You Need to Know About the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
- Rohan Jain
- Jun 16
- 2 min read
A novel idea, and one that arrived with high expectations, is finally commencing. Thirty-two teams, each with distinct origins, histories, and geographical regions, will face off in a battle of the best clubs worldwide.
Here is how the 32 teams will stack up ahead of Sunday’s matchups:
Group A: Al Ahly, Inter Miami, Palmeiras, Porto
Group B: Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Paris Saint-Germain, Seattle Sounders
Group C: Auckland City, Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors, Benfica
Group D: Chelsea, ES Tunis, Flamengo, Los Angeles FC
Group E: Inter Milan, Monterrey, River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds
Group F: Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense, Mamelodi Sundowns, Ulsan HD FC
Group G: Al Ain, Juventus, Manchester City, Wydad
Group H: Al-Hilal, FC Salzburg, Pachuca, Real Madrid
The clubs that qualified in this competition were successful in their respective geographic areas, as FIFA suggests:
Clubs qualified as Continental champions
Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23, and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League
Al Ain (UAE) - 2023/24 AFC Champions League
Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
Pachuca (MEX) - 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Botafogo (BRA) - 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Clubs qualified via ranking
Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Porto (POR) - UEFA ranking pathway
Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
Borussia Dortmund (GER) - UEFA ranking pathway
Juventus (ITA) - UEFA ranking pathway
Atletico Madrid (ESP) - UEFA ranking pathway
FC Salzburg (AUT) - UEFA ranking pathway
Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway
Ulsan HD FC (KOR) - AFC ranking pathway
ES Tunis (TUN) - CAF ranking pathway
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) - CAF ranking pathway
River Plate (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Boca Juniors (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Host nation slot
Inter Miami (USA) – MLS Supporters' Shield winners (2024)
FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ Play-In
Los Angeles Football Club (USA) - Play-In winner
As the awaited matchups begin, a battle of nations and teams will be exciting, and the winner is far from expected. The World Cup will be played throughout the USA and will take place from June to July.
A round-robin double elimination first round will leave the top 16 teams (two teams progressing per group), which will then play single elimination games all the way to the final. Notably, there will not be a third-place play-off, as per FIFA.
A full list of all the fixtures as of Sunday can be viewed here:
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