Club World Cup 2025: the ultimate showdown of club football giants

Mark your calendars: from 15 June to 13 July 2025, club football gets its very own “World Cup moment.” No, this isn’t another glorified preseason tour disguised as a trophy chase. This is the real deal: the FIFA Club World Cup, now super-sized and taking itself a lot more seriously.

For the first time ever, 32 club teams from every continent will gather in the United States for what FIFA insists is the “ultimate” showdown in global club football. Whether it lives up to that hype, we’re about to find out.

What’s new? Oh, just about everything

The Club World Cup of the past was a low-key affair, usually involving the Champions League winners turning up in Japan, Qatar or Morocco, playing once or twice, then flying home with a shiny trophy and barely breaking a sweat. But starting in 2025, the tournament gets a full-blown makeover: a quadrennial (once every four years) football festival of epic proportions.

The new name: Mundial de Clubes FIFA.
The new format: 32 teams, 8 groups, knockouts, no excuses.

And moreover, it replaces the Confederations Cup in the international football calendar. RIP.
 

Quickfire format rundown

•    32 clubs from 6 confederations + 1 host team
•    8 groups of 4
•    Top 2 in each group qualify for the knockout rounds
•    No two-legged anything – just one match per round
•    No third-place playoff (because who really wants that?)

This means every team plays at least three games, and every knockout match is win-or-go-home. There’s no room for error… unless you’re Real Madrid. They tend to survive everything.

Why the big upgrade?

Because the old Club World Cup was, well… a bit of a footnote. Since its inception in 2000 (in Brazil, of all places), it’s been held in relative obscurity with just 7 participants. UEFA and CONMEBOL clubs usually waltzed into the semifinals. And the rest? Grateful for the invite.

In 2005, the format was revamped to merge with the Intercontinental Cup. It got more streamlined, more official, but never really captured global attention. Until now.

Enter FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who decided football needed a “real” Club World Cup. One with 32 teams, massive prize money, and most importantly: big sponsors. So, here we are.

The road to qualification: how the clubs got here

For the 2025 edition, qualification was based on performance in continental competitions between 2021 and 2024, plus a club ranking system (because not everyone can be a champion every year).

Here’s how the 32 spots are divided:

•    UEFA (Europe): 12 teams
•    CONMEBOL (South America): 6 teams
•    AFC (Asia): 4 teams
•    CAF (Africa): 4 teams
•    CONCACAF (North & Central America): 4 teams
•    OFC (Oceania): 1 team
•    Host country (USA): 1 team

So yes, Inter Miami gets in. No doubt to give Messi a final shot at lifting something in July before jetting off to retirement – or maybe spend a year or so in the Saudi Pro League.
 

Notable clubs qualified

•    Europe: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, PSG, Internazionale, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Porto, Red Bull Salzburg
•    South America: Flamengo, Fluminense, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Palmeiras, Botafogo
•    Africa: Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance de Tunis
•    Asia: Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Ulsan HD
•    CONCACAF: Pachuca, Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Club América (via playoff)
•    Oceania: Auckland City
•    Host: Inter Miami CF

Yes, Auckland City are back too. Because football is for everyone.

History class (yes, it’s relevant)

The first Club World Cup took place in 2000 in Brazil, with Corinthians lifting the inaugural trophy. But it wasn’t until 2005 that things became somewhat structured, with annual editions and participation from continental champions.

Before that? Europe and South America settled things between themselves in the Intercontinental Cup, which ran from 1960 to 2004 and gave us some iconic moments… and a fair amount of on-pitch violence.

In 2017, FIFA retroactively recognized those Intercontinental Cup winners as official world champions. Yes, that means AC Milan (1969) and Red Star Belgrade (1991) can both say they were once “the best club in the world.”

With the new format in 2025, FIFA is essentially creating a true club equivalent of the World Cup. It's bold. It's big. And yes, it’s also controversial – with critics citing player fatigue and a saturated football calendar. But hey, when has that ever stopped FIFA?

Groups & schedule

The group draw (held in Miami, naturally) split the 32 teams into 8 groups of 4. Each team plays three matches. No one gets a second chance. Here's what to expect:

Key Dates

•    Group stage: 15–27 June
•    Round of 16: 28 June–2 July
•    Quarter-finals: 4–5 July
•    Semi-finals: 8–9 July
•    Final: 13 July (MetLife Stadium, New Jersey)

Opening match? Inter Miami CF vs. Al Ahly. The Egyptians might just ruin Messi’s farewell party.
 

All the fixtures

GROUP STAGE

15th June, 2025

• 2 a.m. Group A: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami

Most likely to win: Inter Miami

• 6 p.m. Group C: Bayern Munich vs Auckland City

Most likely to win: Bayern Munich

• 9 p.m. Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs Atlético Madrid

Most likely to win: Paris Saint-Germain

16th June, 2025

• 12 a.m. Group A: Palmeiras vs FC Porto

Most likely to win: FC Porto

• 4 a.m. Group B: Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders

Most likely to win: Botafogo

• 9 p.m. Group D: Chelsea vs Los Angeles FC/Club América (TBD)

Most likely to win:
 

17th June, 2025

• 12 a.m. Group C: Boca Juniors vs Benfica

Most likely to win: Benfica

• 3 a.m. Group D: Flamengo vs Espérance de Tunis

Most likely to win: Flamengo

• 6 p.m. Group F: Fluminense FC vs Borussia Dortmund

Most likely to win: Borussia Dortmund

• 9 p.m. Group E: River Plate vs Urawa Red Diamonds

Most likely to win: River Plate
 

18th June, 2025

• 12 a.m. Group F: Ulsan Hyundai vs Mamelodi Sundowns

Most likely to win: Ulsan Hyundai

• 3 a.m. Group E: Monterrey vs Inter Milan

Most likely to win: Inter Milan

• 6 p.m. Group G: Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca

Most likely to win: Manchester City

• 9 p.m. Group H: Real Madrid vs Al Hilal

Most likely to win: Real Madrid
 

19th June, 2025

• 12 a.m. Group H: Pachuca vs RB Salzburg

Most likely to win: RB Salzburg

• 3 a.m. Group G: Al Ain vs Juventus

Most likely to win: Juventus

• 6 p.m. Group A: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group A: Inter Miami vs FC Porto

Most likely to win:
 

20th June, 2025

• 12 a.m. Group B: Seattle Sounders vs Atlético Madrid

Most likely to win:

• 3 a.m. Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs Botafogo

Most likely to win:

• 6 p.m. Group C: Benfica vs Auckland City

Most likely to win:

• 8 p.m. Group D: Flamengo vs Chelsea

Most likely to win:
 

21st June, 2025

• 12 a.m. Group D: Los Angeles FC/Club América (TBD) vs Espérance de Tunis

Most likely to win:

• 3 a.m. Group C: Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors

Most likely to win:

• 6 p.m. Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Borussia Dortmund

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group E: Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds

Most likely to win:
 

22nd June, 2025

• 12 a.m. Group F: Fluminense vs Ulsan Hyundai

Most likely to win:

• 3 a.m. Group E: River Plate vs Monterrey

Most likely to win:

• 6 p.m. Group G: Juventus vs Wydad Casablanca

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group H: Real Madrid vs Pachuca

Most likely to win:
 

23rd June, 2025

• 12 a.m. Group H: RB Salzburg vs Al Hilal

Most likely to win:

• 3 a.m. Group G: Manchester City vs Al Ain

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group B: Seattle Sounders vs Paris Saint-Germain

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group B: Atlético Madrid vs Botafogo

Most likely to win:
 

24th June, 2025

• 3 a.m. Group A: Inter Miami vs Palmeiras

Most likely to win:

• 3 a.m. Group A: FC Porto vs Al Ahly

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group C: Auckland City vs Boca Juniors

Most likely to win:

• 9/10 p.m. Group C: Benfica vs Bayern Munich

Most likely to win:
 

25th June, 2025

• 3 a.m. Group D: Los Angeles FC/Club América (TBD) vs Flamengo

Most likely to win:

• 3 a.m. Group D: Espérance de Tunis vs Chelsea

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group F: Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan Hyundai

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Fluminense

Most likely to win:
 

26th June, 2025

• 3 a.m. Group E: Inter Milan vs River Plate

Most likely to win:

• 3 a.m. Group E: Urawa Red Diamonds vs Monterrey

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group G: Juventus vs Manchester City

Most likely to win:

• 9 p.m. Group G: Wydad Casablanca vs Al Ain

Most likely to win:
 

27th June, 2025

• 3 a.m. Group H: Al Hilal vs Pachuca

Most likely to win:

• 3 a.m. Group H: RB Salzburg vs Real Madrid

Most likely to win:
 

ROUND OF 16

28th June, 2025

• 6 p.m. Group A winner vs Group B runner-up

• 10 p.m. Group C winner vs Group D runner-up
 

29th June, 2025

• 6 p.m. Group B winner vs Group A runner-up

• 10 p.m. Group D winner vs Group C runner-up
 

30th June, 2025

• 9 p.m. Group E winner vs Group F runner-up

1st July, 2025

• 3 a.m. Group G winner vs Group H runner-up

• 9 p.m. Group H winner vs Group G runner-up
 

2nd July, 2025

• 3 a.m. Group F winner vs Group E runner-up

QUARTER-FINALS

4th July, 2025

• 9 p.m. TBD

5th July, 2025

• 3 a.m. TBD

• 6 p.m. TBD

• 10 p.m. TBD

SEMI-FINALS

8th July, 2025

• 9 p.m. TBD

9th July, 2025

• 9 p.m. TBD

FINAL

13th July, 2025

• 9 p.m. TBD

Stadiums and spectacle

Everything’s bigger in America – and that includes the stadiums.

Confirmed venues include:

•    Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
•    MetLife Stadium (New Jersey)
•    Lumen Field (Seattle)
•    Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
•    TQL Stadium (Cincinnati)

You’re just as likely to hear “Sweet Caroline” as you are to hear a samba drum. Welcome to FIFA’s world stage, American edition.

The money talk

The prize pool? A staggering $1 billion, with the winners pocketing up to $100 million. Suddenly, a few extra summer matches sound a lot more appealing, especially for clubs with transfer budgets tighter than their wage bills.

The players to watch

Expect fireworks from usual suspects like Vinícius Jr., Haaland, Mbappé (maybe) and whatever PSG's new crisis signing is. But don’t sleep on local heroes from clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns or Ulsan Hyundai, either.

Also worth noting: Cristiano Ronaldo might not be there, unless Al-Nassr find a backdoor in. But with every club as good as fixed, that chance is to be neglected. However, FIFA will allow (temporary) transfers specifically for the Club World Cup. So we’ll have to wait and see if any team seizes the opportunity to strengthen their squad for a month with CR7.

Unfortunately, Toni Kroos, who has already won this thing five times, has hanged up his boots last year, so he won’t be up for winning a sixth World Cup.

So… should you watch?

Absolutely. Is it FIFA's way of making the club game even more commercial? Sure. Will that stop you from watching Real Madrid try to fend off a plucky Seattle Sounders side on a sweaty Thursday in Ohio? We bet you won’t.

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 might just surprise you. It's got everything: elite teams, global storylines, big money, and (hopefully) no 0-0 group stage stinkers.

And who knows, maybe Inter Miami really will beat Bayern Munich and we’ll all live in that timeline forever.

The best odds on the Club World Cup – only on Golden Palace Sports!

Want more updates, breakdowns and predictions during the tournament? Keep an eye on our Golden Palace Sports pages. We'll be there. For the goals. For the chaos. And of course, for the best odds.