The FIFA Club World Cup is coming to America in 2025. Here’s what you need to know.
The FIFA Club World Cup is a tournament that consists of 32 club teams. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be the first edition of this tournament. Clubs will compete against each other to lift the brand-new trophy. All clubs come from their respective federations (AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA).
Although the names are similar, the FIFA Club World Cup and FIFA World Cup are different. The FIFA World Cup is for countries’ international teams (ex. England, France, Argentina, Canada) whereas the FIFA Club World Cup is for non-international teams (ex. Manchester City, Inter Miami, Chelsea).
There are three ways clubs could qualify for the tournament. The first is qualifying as Continental Champion, the second is the ranking pathway, and the third is as a host nation. 16 Clubs qualified as Continental Champions, 15 through the ranking pathway and one through being a host nation.
A Continental Champion means they won their federation’s premier club tournament. For example, Manchester City won the UEFA Champions League and qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup through that.
The ranking pathway is for clubs who didn’t win their federation’s premier club tournament but are still good. Clubs get ranking points from their federation’s premier club tournament, even if they don’t win it, meaning if they lose in the final they would get the most points out of any team in the tournament besides the winner.
Being a host nation means that the country that is hosting the tournament, which is the USA in this case, gets to choose a club that automatically qualifies.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has four slots for the tournament. Three of these spots were filled as Continental Champions. These teams were Al Hilal (KSA) who won the 2021 AFC Champions League, Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) who won the 2022 AFC Champions League, and Al Ain (UAE) who won both the 2023 and 2024 AFC Champions League. The only team to qualify through the ranking pathway is Ulsan HD FC (KOR).
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also has four slots. Two teams qualified as Continental Champions and two through the ranking pathway. The two that qualified as Continental Champions are Al Ahly (EGY) who won the 2020/21, 2022/23, and 2023/24 CAF Champions League as well as Wydad (MAR) who won the 2021/22 edition of the CAF Champions League. Qualifying through the ranking pathway are ES Tunis (TUN) and Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA).
The Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) has four slots. All four CONCACAF spots were taken by Concacaf Champions Cup winners. These four clubs include Monterrey (MEX) who won the 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup, Seattle Sounders (USA) who won the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup, Club Leon (MEX) who won the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, and Pachuca (MEX) who won the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has the second most slots, with six. Four of these slots were taken by CONMEBOL Libertadores champions, and two through the ranking pathway. SE Palmeiras (BRA) who won the 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores, Flamengo (BRA) who won the 2022 edition, Fluminense (BRA) who won it in 2023, and Botafogo (BRA) won it in 2024. River Plate (ARG) and Boca Juniors (ARG) qualified through the ranking pathway.
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) received just one spot in the tournament. Auckland City (NZL) was the only club from the OFC and qualified through the ranking pathway.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has the most slots in the whole tournament with 12. Only three of these slots were through Continental Champions, and nine were through the ranking pathway. Chelsea (ENG) was one of three teams who qualified through the UEFA Champions League. They won the 2020 edition, Real Madrid (ESP) won the 2021/22 and 2023/24 editions, and lastly, Manchester City (ENG) won the 2022/23 version. The nine teams who qualified through the ranking pathway were Bayern Munich (GER), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Inter Milan (ITA), Porto (POR), Benfica (POR), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Juventus (ITA), Atletico Madrid (ESP) and FC Salzburg (AUT).
Only one team qualified through the host nation slot, which is Inter Miami (USA). Although the club is a part of the Concacaf Federation, it didn’t qualify through the federation, and that is why they are considered to have qualified as a host nation.
The draw to finalize the eight groups occurred on Dec. 5. The eight groups are named Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F, Group G, and Group H. Group A holds the hosts Inter Miami (USA), Porto (POR), SE Palmeiras (BRA), and Al Ahly FC (EGY). Group B holds Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Atlético de Madrid (ESP), Botafogo (BRA), and Seattle Sounders FC (USA). Group C holds FC Bayern München (GER), Auckland City FC (NZL), CA Boca Juniors (ARG), and SL Benfica (POR). Group D contains CR Flamengo (BRA), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (TUN), Chelsea FC (ENG), and Club León (MEX). Group E has CA River Plate (ARG), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN), CF Monterrey (MEX), and FC Internazionale Milano (ITA). Group F holds Fluminense FC (BRA), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Ulsan HD (KOR), and Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA). Group G has Manchester City (ENG), Wydad AC (MAR), Al Ain FC (UAE), and Juventus FC (ITA). Lastly, group H contains Real Madrid C. F. (ESP), Al Hilal (KSA), CF Pachuca (MEX), and FC Salzburg (AUT).
The top two teams in each group will advance to the round of 16 with single-game elimination until a winner hoists the trophy. The tournament will have a total of 63 matches and serves as the precursor to the FIFA World Cup in the summer of 2026. America will have held three competitions in the last three years after the FIFA World Cup, with the COPA America in 2024, The FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 and the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Regardless of how innovative the FIFA Club World Cup will be, fans have concerns. With the packed schedules of footballers now, clubs may want to rest their star players. “People will rest players as they don’t want injuries,” junior Shreyas Ganeshan said.
While resting star players can be a negative, it can also be a positive. Young up-and-coming players will get opportunities to play on a huge stage. “I’m excited to watch some of the Real Madrid youngsters who I don’t get to see play much,” junior Wassim Benslimane said
Another question fans have is if South American clubs can compete with European giants and big-spending Saudi clubs. Big European and Saudi clubs spend significantly more money on players than South American clubs, and as a result, tend to have stronger players. “The South American teams will not be able to compete as they are financially not in the same conditions as the European and Saudi teams,” Ganeshan said.
Due to the tournament’s proximity, fans are hoping to attend a game. Three group-stage matches will take place at Audi Field, the home of D.C. United. “I hope to go to one of the games at Audi Field. Even if my favorite teams aren’t playing, it’s still a can’t-miss experience,” Benslimane said.
