Your Definitive Guide to the 2025 Club World Cup: Teams, Groups, Fixtures, and the Stories to Watch
On June 14, the footballing world turns its attention to Miami, where Lionel Messi and Inter Miami kick off the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Egyptian giants Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium. It marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for this tournament—now a 32-team spectacle taking place across the United States, with one billion dollars in prize money and global bragging rights at stake.
This is more than just football. It’s a collision of continents, histories, ambitions—and, inevitably, storylines full of risk and potential.
A Tournament Reshaped
For the first time, clubs from all six confederations are represented in equal measure, including newcomers like Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea and the perennial African contenders Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns. Auckland City, the pride of Oceania, returns to test the mettle of the game’s elite. Every team has something to prove in this expanded format.
But not all have made the cut. In a dramatic late decision, Club Leon were removed from the competition after failing FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules, which also implicated fellow Mexican club CF Pachuca—though only Leon were expelled. Los Angeles FC replaces them.
The 32 Titans of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Every Team, Every Continent, One Global Stage
Here are the 32 clubs taking part in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, a truly global gathering of champions and giants from every confederation — and for the first time, hosted in the United States.
UEFA (Europe):
- Atletico Madrid (Spain)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Chelsea (England)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Juventus (Italy)
- Manchester City (England)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Porto (Portugal)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
CONMEBOL (South America):
- Boca Juniors (Argentina)
- Botafogo FR (Brazil)
- Flamengo (Brazil)
- Fluminense (Brazil)
- Palmeiras (Brazil)
- River Plate (Argentina)
AFC (Asia):
- Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
- Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
- Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea)
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
CAF (Africa):
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean):
- Los Angeles FC (USA)
- Monterrey (Mexico)
- Pachuca (Mexico)
- Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
OFC (Oceania):
- Auckland City (New Zealand)
Host Nation Entry:
- Inter Miami CF (USA)
Notably, Los Angeles FC became the final club to qualify, clinching their spot with an 89th-minute equalizer and extra-time victory over Club América on May 31. Their dramatic win secured a coveted spot among this prestigious assembly.
Breaking Down the Battle: Group-by-Group Preview of the 2025 Club World Cup
Group A: The Messi Show Begins, But Palmeiras Lurk
Palmeiras, champions of Brazil, headline a balanced group also featuring Egypt’s Al Ahly, Porto of Portugal, and hosts Inter Miami. The Floridians bring star power—Messi, Suarez—but questions loom over their defensive structure. Porto, licking wounds from a dismal domestic campaign, see this as redemption. And Al Ahly? They’re no strangers to this stage, finishing third on four occasions in the last decade.
Fixtures:
- June 14: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami (Miami)
- June 15: Palmeiras vs Porto (New York/NJ)
- June 19: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly (New York/NJ)
- June 19: Inter Miami vs Porto (Atlanta)
- June 23: Inter Miami vs Palmeiras (Miami)
- June 23: Porto vs Al Ahly (New York/NJ)
Group B: The ‘Group of Death’ Lives Up to the Name
Europe’s newly crowned champions, Paris Saint-Germain, take on Atletico Madrid, Brazil’s Botafogo, and Seattle Sounders in a quartet that promises spectacle and suffering in equal measure. PSG routed Inter in the Champions League final but must now navigate Diego Simeone’s hardened Atleti and the streetwise squads from the Americas.
Fixtures:
- June 15: PSG vs Atletico (Pasadena)
- June 15: Seattle Sounders vs Botafogo (Seattle)
- June 19: Sounders vs Atletico (Seattle)
- June 19: PSG vs Botafogo (Pasadena)
- June 26: Sounders vs PSG (Seattle)
- June 26: Atletico vs Botafogo (Pasadena)
Group C: Europe’s Titans Meet South American Grit
In Group C, titans Bayern Munich and Benfica lock horns with Argentina’s Boca Juniors and New Zealand’s Auckland City, who memorably finished third in 2014. Bayern, perennial contenders, face tricky opposition in Boca’s South American bite and a Benfica squad boasting Angel Di Maria. Auckland? The ultimate underdog tale beckons.
Fixtures:
- June 15: Bayern vs Auckland City (Cincinnati)
- June 16: Boca vs Benfica (Miami)
- June 20: Benfica vs Auckland (Orlando)
- June 20: Bayern vs Boca (Miami)
- June 26: Auckland vs Boca (Nashville)
- June 26: Benfica vs Bayern (Charlotte)
Group D: Chelsea and Flamengo, but Don’t Sleep on LAFC
Chelsea and Flamengo are the heavyweight contenders here, but Esperance de Tunis and late-qualifying LAFC—who defeated Club América in a thriller on May 31—won’t simply be making up the numbers. Still, June 20’s clash between Chelsea and Flamengo could determine the group’s kingpin.
Fixtures:
- June 16: Chelsea vs LAFC (Atlanta)
- June 16: Flamengo vs Esperance (Philadelphia)
- June 20: Flamengo vs Chelsea (Philadelphia)
- June 20: LAFC vs Esperance (Nashville)
- June 24: LAFC vs Flamengo (Orlando)
- June 24: Esperance vs Chelsea (Philadelphia)
Group E: Inter Favorites, but River and Monterrey Plot an Upset
Inter Milan—now guided by club legend Christian Chivu following Simone Inzaghi’s departure to Al Hilal—lead a fascinating group alongside River Plate, Monterrey, and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. River’s young star Franco Mastantuono, just 17, could light up the group, while Monterrey’s experience adds intrigue.
Fixtures:
- June 17: River Plate vs Urawa (Seattle)
- June 17: Monterrey vs Inter (Los Angeles)
- June 21: Inter vs Urawa (Seattle)
- June 21: River vs Monterrey (Los Angeles)
- June 25: Inter vs River (Seattle)
- June 25: Urawa vs Monterrey (Los Angeles)
Group F: Dortmund and Fluminense Lead a Potentially Explosive Mix
Borussia Dortmund, fresh from a disappointing Bundesliga campaign, and Brazil’s Fluminense, fresh off a Copa Libertadores win, are the frontrunners here. But don’t write off Mamelodi Sundowns—eight-time South African champions—or K League’s Ulsan HD, still a formidable force in Asia.
Fixtures:
- June 17: Fluminense vs Dortmund (New Jersey)
- June 17: Ulsan HD vs Sundowns (Orlando)
- June 21: Sundowns vs Dortmund (Cincinnati)
- June 21: Fluminense vs Ulsan HD (New Jersey)
- June 25: Dortmund vs Ulsan HD (Cincinnati)
- June 25: Sundowns vs Fluminense (Florida)
Group G: Guardiola vs Allegri, City vs Juventus
Manchester City, Juventus, Al Ain, and Wydad AC form one of the more balanced groups. Pep Guardiola’s side seek revenge for their UCL loss to Juve, while Morocco’s Wydad and UAE’s Al Ain round out a group that might produce late drama.
Fixtures:
- June 18: City vs Wydad (Philadelphia)
- June 18: Al Ain vs Juventus (Washington)
- June 22: Juventus vs Wydad (Philadelphia)
- June 22: City vs Al Ain (Atlanta)
- June 26: Juventus vs City (Orlando)
- June 26: Wydad vs Al Ain (Washington)
Group H: Real Madrid’s New Era Under Alonso Begins
All eyes are on Real Madrid, who begin a new era under Xabi Alonso, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen joining the fold. They’ve also signed Franco Mastantuono, but he will play this competition with River Plate. But this group is no walkover. Al Hilal (now managed by Simone Inzaghi), Pachuca, and Red Bull Salzburg all carry upset potential.
Fixtures:
- June 18: Real Madrid vs Al Hilal (Miami)
- June 18: Pachuca vs Salzburg (Cincinnati)
- June 22: Real Madrid vs Pachuca (Charlotte)
- June 22: Salzburg vs Al Hilal (Washington)
- June 26: Al Hilal vs Pachuca (Nashville)
- June 26: Salzburg vs Madrid (Philadelphia)
Prize Money and New Tech: Football’s Billion-Dollar Testbed
FIFA has earmarked $1 billion for this tournament:
- $525 million in participation pool
- $475 million in performance-based rewards
Winners could pocket $125 million, depending on group results. Here’s the structure:
- Win in group: +$2m
- Draw in group: +$1m
- Round of 16: +$7.5m
- Quarterfinal: +$13.125m
- Semifinal: +$21m
- Final: +$30m
- Winner’s bonus: +$40m
Stadiums: A Coast-to-Coast Football Carnival
The tournament spans 12 venues across 11 cities, with the MetLife Stadium in New York hosting the final.
|
Stadium |
City |
Capacity |
|
Rose Bowl |
Pasadena (LA) |
88,500 |
|
MetLife Stadium |
East Rutherford (NY) |
82,500 |
|
Bank of America Stadium |
Charlotte |
75,000 |
|
Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
Atlanta |
75,000 |
|
Lincoln Financial Field |
Philadelphia |
69,000 |
|
Lumen Field |
Seattle |
69,000 |
|
Hard Rock Stadium |
Miami Gardens |
65,000 |
|
Camping World Stadium |
Orlando |
65,000 |
|
Geodis Park |
Nashville |
30,000 |
|
TQL Stadium |
Cincinnati |
26,000 |
|
Inter&Co Stadium |
Orlando |
25,000 |
|
Audi Field |
Washington D.C. |
20,000 |
Early Transfer Window & FIFA Innovations
Due to the tournament, Premier League clubs opened the summer transfer window early—June 1 to 10—before it reopens June 16. Deadline Day is September 1.
Meanwhile, referees will wear body cameras for the first time in a FIFA tournament. Alongside a new semi-automated offside system, this competition becomes a real-time testing ground for the future of officiating.
And Robbie Williams? Yes, He’s Here Too
Football meets entertainment. Robbie Williams returns as FIFA’s music ambassador, performing live during the tournament following his appearance at the launch event in January.
The stage is set. Legends past and present will clash, new names will emerge, and stories will be written on American soil. The 2025 Club World Cup is no mere exhibition—it’s a high-stakes theatre where football’s next global chapter begins.
