Club World Cup: Who is participating and how did they qualify?
Right up until 2023, the FIFA Club World Cup was staged as an annual tournament every December and participation was limited to the winners of the continental club competitions, at most eight clubs.
Saturday, 15 June 2025, will represent a new dawn for football as the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicks off in the United States, with 32 teams vying for the title in the new-look expanded intercontinental club competition.
Right up until 2023, the FIFA Club World Cup was staged as an annual tournament every December and participation was limited to the winners of the continental club competitions, at most eight clubs.
This has now changed completely.
FIFA bosses have described the expanded World Cup as an opportunity for the football world to grow and expand it's reaches by providing an opportunity for clubs from all over the world to participate in a global competition.
The competition will begin on June 14, with the final scheduled for July 13.
Group stage: June 14 to 26
Round of 16: June 28 to July 1
Quarterfinals: July 4 and 5
Semifinals: July 8 and 9
Final: July 13
How did teams qualify? Qualified teams were determined by the winners of the continental club competitions, such as the Champions League, and the confederation’s four-year rankings.
Of the 32 clubs, Europe (UEFA) is the best-represented confederation with 12 teams, followed by South America (CONMEBOL) with six.
Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF) and North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) have four teams each. Oceania is represented by one club, while the final slot has been allocated to the host nation’s representative, Inter Miami.
Mexican club Leon had qualified by winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2023, but were removed by FIFA due to an ownership rule breach as they share the same owner with another club, Pachuca.
After the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Leon’s appeal, a playoff between Los Angeles FC and Mexican side Club America was played. It was won by LAFC.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, LAFC
Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD FC, Mamelodi Sundowns
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, FC Salzburg
