Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup

Created to recognize the best club on the planet, the Club World Cup has undergone several changes since its inception. Long dominated by European and South American teams, this competition is poised for a revolution in 2025 with a new, expanded format.

The Origin of the FIFA Club World Cup

In 2000, FIFA launched the Club World Championship, bringing together the best teams from each confederation. The first edition, held in Brazil, was won by SC Corinthians. Scheduled for 2001, the second edition was canceled, and the competition did not return until 2005, replacing the Intercontinental Cup.

On March 15, 2019, despite opposition from the European Club Association, FIFA announced a move to 24 teams starting in 2021, with a four-year tournament. Then, on December 16, 2022, it pushed the boundaries again by formalizing a 32-team 2025 edition.

2025 Club World Cup

What format?

It is a 4-week tournament featuring 32 clubs, 8 groups of 4, from different leagues around the world (UEFA, CAF, AFC, Concacaf, OFC, Conmebol, a team from the host country). Regarding UEFA, the participating teams are the last 3 Champions League winners as well as the top 9 in the UEFA rankings.

Furthermore, a maximum of 2 teams per country is allowed.

Where will the 2025 Club World Cup take place?

The competition will take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025, in the United States, in 12 different stadiums. The final will take place in New York at MetLife Stadium, which can accommodate more than 82,000 spectators.

Which teams will play in the 2025 Club World Cup?

UEFA (Europe):

• Chelsea FC
• real Madrid
• Manchester City
• Bayern Munich
• Paris Saint-Germain
• Inter Milan
• Borussia Dortmund
• FC Porto
• Atlético de Madrid
• SL Benfica
• Juventus FC
• RB Salzburg

CONMEBOL (South America):

• SE Palmeiras
• CR Flamengo
• Fluminense FC
• Botafogo FR
• River Plate
• Boca Juniors

AFC (Asia):

• Al-Hilal FC
• Urawa Red Diamonds
• Al-Ain FC
• Ulsan Hyundai

CAF (Africa):

• Al Ahly SC
• Wydad AC
• ES Tunis
• Mamelodi Sundowns

CONCACAF (North, Central America and the Caribbean):

• CF Monterrey
• Seattle Sounders
• Club León
• CF Pachuca
• Inter Miami CF

OFC (Oceania):

• Auckland City

To find out everything about the competition: FIFA website

A competition that gets people talking: the pros and cons

This competition aims to unite the football world and attract a global audience, much like the World Cup. It allows lesser-known clubs to compete with the giants of the game and increase their resources.

Beyond the prestige, the financial aspect is major: each participating club could receive 50 million euros, with a minimum of 100 million for the winner.

However, the back-to-back matches are worrying players and coaches. Some could play up to 82 matches per season, increasing the risk of injury. Furthermore, hosting the competition in the United States involves extensive travel, making the schedule even more demanding.