The FIFA Club World Cup is one of the most spectacular soccer tournaments worldwide, drawing together the best club teams from different continents to fight for world champion status. In 2025, this tournament shall take on a new form and format that will become even more thrilling as seven teams will increase to 32. Let's learn all about it: how many teams will participate, what tournament format will be used, and how to watch them!
What is the FIFA Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup is an international club football competition conducted by FIFA. It began in the year 2000 and has gradually developed over the years. Traditionally, it included a few teams only, but from 2025 onwards, it will consist of 32 clubs, thereby becoming a much larger and competitive event. This tournament gives clubs an opportunity to participate and display their talent at a global level when they have won their respective continental competitions.
Tournament Structure
The new tournament will be structured like the FIFA World Cup. Here's how it goes:
- Group Stage: The 32 teams will be distributed into eight groups of four. Each team will play against every other team in their group once.
- Knockout Stage: The top two teams from each group will qualify for the round of 16, leading to quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finally the final match.
- Match Schedule: The tournament will be played out over four weeks, between June 15 and July 13, 2025. A total of 63 matches will be played.
Host Country and Venues
The United States has been chosen as the host nation for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Matches will be played across 12 different cities, showcasing some of the country's most iconic stadiums. Here are some of the venues:
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
- TQL Stadium (Charlotte)
- Bank of America Stadium (Cincinnati)
- Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles)
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
- GEODIS Park (Nashville)
- MetLife Stadium (New Jersey)
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
- Lumen Field (Seattle)
- Audi Field (Washington D.C.)
- Camping World Stadium (Orlando)
Participating Teams
A total of 32 teams from six different confederations will participate in this tournament. Here’s a breakdown of the qualified teams:
Europe (12 Teams)
- Manchester City (England)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Chelsea (England)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Porto (Portugal)
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Juventus (Italy)
- RB Salzburg (Austria)
- Atlético Madrid (Spain)
South America (6 Teams)
- Palmeiras (Brazil)
- Flamengo (Brazil)
- Fluminense (Brazil)
- River Plate (Argentina)
- Boca Juniors (Argentina)
- Botafogo (Brazil)
North America (5 Teams)
- Monterrey (Mexico)
- Seattle Sounders (USA)
- León (Mexico)
- Pachuca (Mexico)
- Inter Miami (USA - Host Nation)
Africa (4 Teams)
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Wydad AC (Morocco)
- Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Asia (4 Teams)
- Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
- Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
- Ulsan Hyundai FC (South Korea)
Oceania (1 Team)
- Auckland City FC (New Zealand)
How Teams Qualified
Teams qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup based on their performance in continental competitions over a four-year period or by winning their respective championships in those competitions:
- UEFA clubs qualified through performances in the UEFA Champions League.
- CONMEBOL clubs were determined by their success in the Copa Libertadores.
- AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF clubs were chosen based on their continental tournaments.
- Oceania's representative comes from the OFC Champions League.
When and Where to Watch
For those who want to catch every bit of the action at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, matches will be broadcast live all around the world through various means, including DAZN and local sports networks in your region. In India, there will be coverage on sports channels and streaming services that usually broadcast international soccer events.
A Global Celebration of Soccer
This year's FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is bound to be an extraordinary spectacle, hosting some of the best talents in club football from every corner of the world. Expanding its format and ensuring diverse representation across continents, this tournament promises to present not just individual teams but also a celebration of soccer as the unifying spirit around the world.
As we enter June 2025, there are going to be some thrilling matches with legendary clubs and players competing for global glory!
With inputs from FIFA
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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