The United States will host the Club World Cup in 2025 — the first edition of the club football competition under FIFA’s controversial new expanded format.
Manchester City are the Club World Cup holders following their 2023 triumph in Saudi Arabia. That tournament featured the reigning champions from each of FIFA’s six regional confederations, plus host participants Al Ittihad.
In 2025, there will be 32 teams taking part, with FIFA having launched a revamped version of the tournament to mirror its flagship World Cup for international teams.
Most of the criticism around the new competition structure has centred on football’s already packed calendar and further strain being placed upon its elite players. However, there remains plenty of intrigue, not least the fact that arguably the most elite of them all, Lionel Messi, is likely to renew acquaintances with some old foes after Inter Miami were selected as the host participants.
MORE: Prize money at the Club World Cup | All-time tournament winners | How teams qualified
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 schedule, format
The FIFA Club World Cup will take place in the summer of 2025 in the United States, with the group stage to begin on June 15, 2025, with Messi’s Inter Miami slated to play in the opening match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
The tournament will progress for the subsequent month, with the top two teams from the eight groups of four progressing to the knockout stage and the Round of 16. The final will take place on July 13, 2025 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Teams in 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
The 32 teams were split across four pots for the draw in December 2024 in a format familiar to fans of the UEFA Champions League before Europe’s flagship competition switched to its new “Swiss model” for 2024/25.
The champions from each confederation over the course of the four-year qualifying cycle earned a place automatically, with the remaining places allocated to the strongest-performing teams in continental competitions during that period.
UEFA is the most heavily represented with 12 spots, with six going to CONMEBOL. AFC, CAF and CONCACAF have four apiece, with OFC entrant Auckland City and Inter Miami completing the 32.
Aside from each continental champion, for whom there were no restrictions on qualification, there can be no more than two teams from a single nation. For example, Brazil is the most heavily represented country with four participants as Fluminense, Botafogo, Palmeiras and Flamengo have all won the Copa Libertadores during the qualifying period. However, Chelsea and Manchester City are the only two English clubs because their respective 2021 and 2023 Champions League final wins precluded any other Premier League teams from qualifying by virtue of UEFA’s coefficient rankings.
Pot one comprises the highest-ranked teams from Europe and South America, with the remaining eight European sides going into pot two. The other South American clubs, Boca Juniors and recently crowned Libertadores champions Botafogo head up pot three alongside the best of Asia, Africa and CONCACAF, with the remaining clubs joining Inter Miami in pot four.
| Pot 1 |
Pot 2 |
Pot 3 |
Pot 4 |
| Manchester City |
Chelsea |
Al Hilal |
Urawa Red Diamonds |
| Real Madrid |
Borussia Dortmund |
Ulsan HD |
Al Ain |
| Bayern Munich |
Inter Milan |
Al Ahly |
Esperance de Tunis |
| PSG |
Porto |
Wydad AC |
Mamelodi Sundowns |
| Flamengo |
Atletico Madrid |
Monterrey |
Pachuca |
| Palmeiras |
Benfica |
Leon |
Seattle Sounders |
| River Plate |
Juventus |
Boca Juniors |
Auckland City |
| Fluminense |
RB Salzburg |
Botafogo |
Inter Miami |
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group stage draw, schedule, standings
This section will be updated once the draw for the group stage takes place on Thursday, December 5 at 1 p.m. ET.
Group A
| |
Team |
Matches |
W-L-D |
GD |
Pts. |
| 1. |
Palmeiras |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
FC Porto |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Al Ahly |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Inter Miami |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
Group A match schedule
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| June 15 |
TBC |
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami |
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| TBC |
TBC |
Palmeiras vs. Porto |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Inter Miami vs. Porto |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Porto vs. Al Ahly |
TBC |
Group B
| |
Team |
Matches |
W-L-D |
GD |
Pts. |
| 1. |
PSG |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Atletico Madrid |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Botafogo |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Seattle Sounders |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
Group B match schedule
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
PSG vs. Atletico Madrid |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Botafogo vs, Seattle Sounders |
Lumen Field, Seattle |
| TBC |
TBC |
PSG vs. Botafogo |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Seattle Sounders vs. Atletico Madrid |
Lumen Field, Seattle |
| TBC |
TBC |
Seattle Sounders vs. PSG |
Lumen Field, Seattle |
| TBC |
TBC |
Atletico Madrid vs. Botafogo |
TBC |
Group C
| |
Team |
Matches |
W-L-D |
GD |
Pts. |
| 1. |
Bayern Munich |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Auckland City |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Boca Juniors |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Benfica |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
Group C match schedule
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Boca Juniors vs. Benfica |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Benfica vs. Auckland City |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Benfica vs. Bayern Munich |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors |
TBC |
Group D
| |
Team |
Matches |
W-L-D |
GD |
Pts. |
| 1. |
Flamengo |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Esperance de Tunisia |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Chelsea |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Club Leon |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
Group D match schedule
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
Flamengo vs. Esperance de Tunisia |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Chelsea vs. Club Leon |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Flamengo vs. Chelsea |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Club Leon vs. Esperance de Tunisia |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Club Leon vs. Flamengo |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Esperance de Tunisia vs. Chelsea |
TBC |
Group E
| |
Team |
Matches |
W-L-D |
GD |
Pts. |
| 1. |
River Plate |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Urawa Red Diamonds |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Monterrey |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Inter Milan |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
Group E match schedule
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Monterrey vs. Inter Milan |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
River Plate vs. Monterrey |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Inter Milan vs. River Plate |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey |
TBC |
Group F
| |
Team |
Games Played |
W-L-D |
GD |
Pts. |
| 1. |
Fluminense |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Borussia Dortmund |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Ulsan HD |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Mamelodi Sundowns |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
Group F match schedule
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD |
TBC |
Group G
| |
Team |
Matches |
W-L-D |
GD |
Pts. |
| 1. |
Man City |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Wydad Casablanca |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Al Ain |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Juventus |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
Group G match schedule
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
Man City vs. Wydad Casablanca |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Al Ain vs. Juventus |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Man City vs. Al Ain |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Juventus vs. Wydad Casablanca |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Juventus vs. Man City |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Wydad Casablanca vs. Al Ain |
TBC |
Group H
| |
Team |
Matches |
W-L-D |
GD |
Pts. |
| 1. |
Real Madrid |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Al Hilal |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Pachuca |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Red Bull Salzburg |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
0 |
Group H match schedule
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Real Madrid vs. Pachuca |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
FC Salzburg vs. Real Madrid |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Al Hilal vs. Pachuca |
TBC |
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Round of 16
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
M1: 1st Group A vs. 2nd, Group B |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
M2: 1st, Group C vs. 2nd Group D |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
M3: 1st, Group E vs. 2nd Group F |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
M4: 1st, Group G vs. 2nd Group H |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
M5: 1st Group B vs. 2nd Group A |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
M6: 1st, Group D vs. 2nd Group C |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
M7: 1st, Group F vs. 2nd Group E |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
M8: 1st, Group H vs. 2nd, Group G |
TBC |
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Quarterfinals
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M2 |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
QF2: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M4 |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
QF3: Winner, M5 vs. Winner, M6 |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
QF4: Winner, M7 vs. Winner, M8 |
TBC |
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Semifinals
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| TBC |
TBC |
Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF2 |
TBC |
| TBC |
TBC |
Winner, QF3 vs. Winner, QF4 |
TBC |
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final
| Date |
Time (CET) |
Match |
Location |
| July 13 |
TBC |
SF winner vs. SF winner |
MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 venues, cities
Twelve venues will host Club World Cup matches across the United States.
The tournament opener at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami and the final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey have already been slated, with games to be allocated across the below venues following the draw.
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup final, is the largest stadium in use.
| Venue |
City |
Capacity |
| Audi Field |
Washington DC |
20,000 |
| Bank of America Stadium |
Charlotte, North Carolina |
75,000 |
| Camping World Stadium |
Orlando, Florida |
65,000 |
| Geodis Park |
Nashville, Tennessee |
30,000 |
| Hard Rock Stadium |
Miami Gardens, Florida |
65,000 |
| Inter & Co Stadium |
Orlando, Florida |
25,000 |
| Lincoln Field |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
69,000 |
| Lumen Field |
Seattle, Washington |
69,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
Atlanta, Georgia |
75,000 |
| MetLife Stadium |
East Rutherford, New Jersey |
82,500 |
| Rose Bowl |
Pasadena, California |
42,959 |
| TQL Stadium |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
26,000 |
