The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is shaping up to be a monumental event in sports. Set to be hosted in the United States, this expanded version of the tournament is expected to deliver high-level games, featuring top clubs from every corner of the globe. Here’s a comprehensive guide to what fans can expect.
When is the 2025 Club World Cup?
The tournament is scheduled to run from June 15, 2025, to July 13, 2025. This timeline allows for smooth integration with the international game calendar and provides a breather before the start of the European domestic club seasons.
The tournament rounds take place during the following windows:
- Group Stage: June 15-26
- Round of 16: June 28 – July 1
- Quarterfinals: July 4-5
- Semifinals: July 8-9
- Final: July 13
What is the Club World Cup?
Before we expand on the 2025 edition of the tournament, let’s take a step back. What is the Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup is an international tournament bringing together the best clubs from different continents. For 2025, FIFA has introduced a revamped format similar to the men’s FIFA World Cup. This new iteration will feature 32 teams, grouped into eight groups of four.
- Group Stage: Each team plays three games, with the top two from each group advancing
- Knockout Rounds: Starting with the Round of 16, teams compete in single-elimination games, culminating in the final
Previously, the Club World Cup was held annually with a smaller number of participants, typically seven—including the champions of each continent and the host nation’s domestic league winner. Starting in 2025, it will occur every four years, aligning itself with the FIFA World Cup’s prestige and cycle. Previous hosts include nations like Japan, the UAE, and Qatar, with notable winners including Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Corinthians. Real Madrid holds the record for most titles with five wins.
Participating Teams
A total of 32 teams have qualified based on their continental successes over the past four years. Below is a breakdown of the participants by continent:
| Continent | Teams |
|---|---|
| Asia | Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al Ain (UAE), Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea) |
| Africa | Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Esperance (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) |
| Europe | Chelsea, Manchester City (England), Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid (Spain), Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund (Germany), PSG (France), Juventus, Inter Milan (Italy), Benfica (Portugal), Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) |
| North America | Monterrey (Mexico), Seattle Sounders (USA), Club León (Mexico), Pachuca (Mexico), Inter Miami (USA) |
| South America | Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo (Brazil), River Plate, Boca Juniors (Argentina) |
| Oceania | Auckland City (New Zealand) |
As you can see below, the expanded 32 team format ensures the Club World Cup is a more global tournament.
Club World Cup Groups
So, which teams were drawn together? The official tournament draw was held on December 5, 2024 and there are some intriguing pairings for fans of North American teams.
Don’t recognize some of the club logos above? Here’s a table with the full list:
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami |
| Group B | PSG, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders |
| Group C | Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica |
| Group D | Flamengo, Espérance de Tunis, Chelsea, León |
| Group E | River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan |
| Group F | Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns |
| Group G | Manchester City, Wydad AC, Al Ain, Juventus |
| Group H | Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Red Bull Salzburg |
Game Schedule by Stadium
Which stadiums are hosting which games? What city do you have to go to in order to see your favorite team? Below is a table with the games by stadium to help answer both questions!
| Stadium | Location | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta | 6/16: Chelsea (England) v. Club León (Mexico) 6/19: Inter Miami (USA) v. FC Porto (Portugal) 6/22: Manchester City (England) v. Al Ain FC (UAE) 6/29: Round of 16 (Group B winners v. Group A runners-up) 7/1: Round of 16 (Group F winners v. Group E runners-up) 7/5: Quarterfinal |
| Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte | 6/22: Real Madrid (Spain) v. CF Pachuca (Mexico) 6/24: Benfica (Portugal) v. Bayern Munich (Germany) 6/28: Round of 16 (Group C winners v. Group D runners-up) 6/30: Round of 16 (Group E winners v. Group F runners-up) |
| TQL Stadium | Cincinnati | 6/15: Bayern Munich (Germany) v. Auckland City FC (New Zealand) 6/18: CF Pachuca (Mexico) v. FC Salzburg (Austria) 6/21: Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) v. Dortmund (Germany) 6/25: Dortmund (Germany) v. Ulsan HD (South Korea) |
| Rose Bowl | Los Angeles | 6/15: Paris Saint-Germain (France) v. Atlético de Madrid (Spain) 6/17: CF Monterrey (Mexico) v. Inter Milan (Italy) 6/19: Paris Saint-Germain (France) v. Botafogo (Brazil) 6/21: River Plate (Argentina) v. CF Monterrey (Mexico) 6/23: Atlético de Madrid (Spain) v. Botafogo (Brazil) 6/25: Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) v. CF Monterrey (Mexico) |
| Hard Rock Stadium | Miami | 6/14: Al Ahly FC (Egypt) v. Inter Miami (USA) 6/16: Boca Juniors (Argentina) v. Benfica (Portugal) 6/18: Real Madrid (Spain) v. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 6/20: Bayern Munich (Germany) v. Boca Juniors (Argentina) 6/23: Inter Miami (USA) v. Palmeiras (Brazil) 6/25: Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) v. Fluminense (Brazil) 6/29: Round of 16 (Group D winners v. Group C runners-up) 7/1: Round of 16 (Group H winners v. Group G runners-up) |
| GEODIS Park | Nashville | 6/20: Club León (Mexico) v. Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Algeria) 6/24: Auckland City FC (New Zealand) v. Boca Juniors (Argentina) 6/26: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) v. CF Pachuca (Mexico) |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | 6/15: Palmeiras (Brazil) v. FC Porto (Portugal) 6/17: Fluminense (Brazil) v. Dortmund (Germany) 6/19: Palmeiras (Brazil) v. Al Ahly FC (Egypt) 6/21: Fluminense (Brazil) v. Ulsan HD (South Korea) 6/23: FC Porto (Portugal) v. Al Ahly FC (Egypt) 7/5: Quarterfinal 7/8: Semi-Final 7/9: Semi-Final 7/13: Final |
| Camping World Stadium | Orlando | 6/24: Club León (Mexico) v. Flamengo (Brazil) 6/26: Juventus (Italy) v. Manchester City (England) 6/30: Round of 16 (Group G winners v. Group H runners-up) 7/4: Quarterfinal |
| Inter&Co Stadium | Orlando | 6/17: Ulsan HD (South Korea) v. Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) 6/20: Benfica (Portugal) v. Auckland City FC (New Zealand) |
| Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia | 6/16: Flamengo (Brazil) v. Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Algeria) 6/18: Manchester City (England) v. Wydad AC (Morocco) 6/20: Flamengo (Brazil) v. Chelsea (England) 6/22: Juventus (Italy) v. Wydad AC (Morocco) 6/24: Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Algeria) v. Chelsea (England) 6/26: FC Salzburg (Austria) v. Real Madrid (Spain) 6/28: Round of 16 (Group A winners v. Group B runners-up) 7/4: Quarterfinal |
| Lumen Field | Seattle | 6/15: Botafogo (Brazil) v. Seattle Sounders (USA) 6/17: River Plate (Argentina) v. Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) 6/19: Seattle Sounders (USA) v. Atlético de Madrid (Spain) 6/21: Inter Milan (Italy) v. Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) 6/23: Seattle Sounders (USA) v. Paris Saint-Germain (France) 6/25: Inter Milan (Italy) v. River Plate (Argentina) |
| Audi Field | Washington, D.C. | 6/18: Al Ain FC (UAE) v. Juventus (Italy) 6/22: FC Salzburg (Austria) v. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 6/26: Wydad AC (Morocco) v. Al Ain FC (UAE) |