The United States will host the Club World Cup in 2025 — the first edition of the club football competition under FIFA’s controversial new expanded format.
Manchester City are the Club World Cup holders following their 2023 triumph in Saudi Arabia. That tournament featured the reigning champions from each of FIFA’s six regional confederations, plus host participants Al Ittihad.
In 2025, there will be 32 teams taking part, with FIFA having launched a revamped version of the tournament to mirror its flagship World Cup for international teams.
Most of the criticism around the new competition structure has centred on football’s already packed calendar and further strain being placed upon its elite players. However, there remains plenty of intrigue, not least the fact that arguably the most elite of them all, Lionel Messi, is likely to renew acquaintances with some old foes after Inter Miami were selected as the host participants.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 schedule, format
The FIFA Club World Cup will take place in the summer of 2025 in the United States, with the group stage to begin on June 14, 2025, with Messi’s Inter Miami slated to play in the opening match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
The tournament will progress for the subsequent month, with the top two teams from the eight groups of four progressing to the knockout stage and the Round of 16. The final will take place on July 13, 2025 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Teams in 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
The 32 teams were split across four pots for the draw in December 2024 in a format familiar to fans of the UEFA Champions League before Europe’s flagship competition switched to its new "Swiss model" for 2024/25.
The champions from each confederation over the course of the four-year qualifying cycle earned a place automatically, with the remaining places allocated to the strongest-performing teams in continental competitions during that period.
UEFA is the most heavily represented with 12 spots, with six going to CONMEBOL. AFC, CAF and CONCACAF have four apiece, with OFC entrant Auckland City and Inter Miami completing the 32.
Aside from each continental champion, for whom there were no restrictions on qualification, there can be no more than two teams from a single nation. For example, Brazil is the most heavily represented country with four participants as Fluminense, Botafogo, Palmeiras and Flamengo have all won the Copa Libertadores during the qualifying period. However, Chelsea and Manchester City are the only two English clubs because their respective 2021 and 2023 Champions League final wins precluded any other Premier League teams from qualifying by virtue of UEFA’s coefficient rankings.
Pot one comprises the highest-ranked teams from Europe and South America, with the remaining eight European sides going into pot two. The other South American clubs, Boca Juniors and recently crowned Libertadores champions Botafogo head up pot three alongside the best of Asia, Africa and CONCACAF, with the remaining clubs joining Inter Miami in pot four.
Pot 1
Pot 2
Pot 3
Pot 4
Manchester City
Chelsea
Al Hilal
Urawa Red Diamonds
Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund
Ulsan HD
Al Ain
Bayern Munich
Inter Milan
Al Ahly
Esperance de Tunis
PSG
Porto
Wydad AC
Mamelodi Sundowns
Flamengo
Atletico Madrid
Monterrey
Pachuca
Palmeiras
Benfica
Club Leon*
Seattle Sounders
River Plate
Juventus
Boca Juniors
Auckland City
Fluminense
RB Salzburg
Botafogo
Inter Miami
*Club Leon were expelled from the tournament after failing to meet FIFA rules on multi-club ownership. Their replacements have not yet been announced.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group stage draw, schedule, standings
Group A
Team
Matches
W-L-D
GD
Pts.
1.
Palmeiras
0
0-0-0
0
0
2.
FC Porto
0
0-0-0
0
0
3.
Al Ahly
0
0-0-0
0
0
4.
Inter Miami
0
0-0-0
0
0
Group A match schedule
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
June 14
8:00 p.m.
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
June 15
6:00 p.m.
Palmeiras vs. Porto
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
June 19
12:00 p.m.
Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
June 19
3:00 p.m.
Inter Miami vs. Porto
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
June 23
9:00 p.m.
Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
June 23
9:00 p.m.
Porto vs. Al Ahly
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Group B
Team
Matches
W-L-D
GD
Pts.
1.
PSG
0
0-0-0
0
0
2.
Atletico Madrid
0
0-0-0
0
0
3.
Botafogo
0
0-0-0
0
0
4.
Seattle Sounders
0
0-0-0
0
0
Group B match schedule
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
June 15
3:00 p.m.
PSG vs. Atletico Madrid
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
June 15
10:00 p.m.
Botafogo vs, Seattle Sounders
Lumen Field, Seattle
June 19
9:00 p.m.
PSG vs. Botafogo
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
June 19
6:00 p.m.
Seattle Sounders vs. Atletico Madrid
Lumen Field, Seattle
June 23
3:00 p.m.
Seattle Sounders vs. PSG
Lumen Field, Seattle
June 23
3:00 p.m.
Atletico Madrid vs. Botafogo
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Group C
Team
Matches
W-L-D
GD
Pts.
1.
Bayern Munich
0
0-0-0
0
0
2.
Auckland City
0
0-0-0
0
0
3.
Boca Juniors
0
0-0-0
0
0
4.
Benfica
0
0-0-0
0
0
Group C match schedule
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
June 15
12:00 p.m.
Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
June 16
6:00 p.m.
Boca Juniors vs. Benfica
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
June 20
9:00 p.m.
Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
June 20
12:00 p.m.
Benfica vs. Auckland City
Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando
June 24
3:00 p.m.
Benfica vs. Bayern Munich
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
June 24
3:00 p.m.
Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors
Geodis Park, Nashville
Group D
Team
Matches
W-L-D
GD
Pts.
1.
Flamengo
0
0-0-0
0
0
2.
Esperance
0
0-0-0
0
0
3.
Chelsea
0
0-0-0
0
0
4.
TBD
0
0-0-0
0
0
Group D match schedule
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
June 16
9:00 p.m.
Flamengo vs. Esperance
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 16
3:00 p.m.
Chelsea vs. TBD
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
June 20
2:00 p.m.
Flamengo vs. Chelsea
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 20
6:00 p.m.
TBD vs. Esperance
Geodis Park, Nashville
June 24
9:00 p.m.
TBD vs. Flamengo
Camping World Stadium, Orlando
June 24
9:00 p.m.
Esperance vs. Chelsea
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Group E
Team
Matches
W-L-D
GD
Pts.
1.
River Plate
0
0-0-0
0
0
2.
Urawa Red Diamonds
0
0-0-0
0
0
3.
Monterrey
0
0-0-0
0
0
4.
Inter Milan
0
0-0-0
0
0
Group E match schedule
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
June 17
3:00 p.m.
River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds
Lumen Field, Seattle
June 17
9:00 p.m.
Monterrey vs. Inter Milan
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
June 21
9:00 p.m.
River Plate vs. Monterrey
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
June 21
3:00 p.m.
Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds
Lumen Field, Seattle
June 25
9:00 p.m.
Inter Milan vs. River Plate
Lumen Field, Seattle
June 25
9:00 p.m.
Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Group F
Team
Games Played
W-L-D
GD
Pts.
1.
Fluminense
0
0-0-0
0
0
2.
Borussia Dortmund
0
0-0-0
0
0
3.
Ulsan
0
0-0-0
0
0
4.
Mamelodi Sundowns
0
0-0-0
0
0
Group F match schedule
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
June 17
12:00 p.m.
Fluminense vs. Bor. Dortmund
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
June 17
6:00 p.m.
Ulsan vs. Mamelodi Sundowns
Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando
June 21
6:00 p.m.
Fluminense vs. Ulsan
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
June 21
12:00 p.m.
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Bor. Dortmund
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
June 25
3:00 p.m.
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
June 25
3:00 p.m.
Bor. Dortmund vs. Ulsan
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Group G
Team
Matches
W-L-D
GD
Pts.
1.
Man City
0
0-0-0
0
0
2.
Wydad
0
0-0-0
0
0
3.
Al Ain
0
0-0-0
0
0
4.
Juventus
0
0-0-0
0
0
Group G match schedule
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
June 18
12:00 p.m.
Man City vs. Wydad
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 18
9:00 p.m.
Al Ain vs. Juventus
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
June 22
9:00 p.m.
Man City vs. Al Ain
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
June 22
12:00 p.m.
Juventus vs. Wydad
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 26
3:00 p.m.
Juventus vs. Man City
Camping World Stadium, Orlando
June 26
3:00 p.m.
Wydad vs. Al Ain
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Group H
Team
Matches
W-L-D
GD
Pts.
1.
Real Madrid
0
0-0-0
0
0
2.
Al Hilal
0
0-0-0
0
0
3.
Pachuca
0
0-0-0
0
0
4.
Salzburg
0
0-0-0
0
0
Group H match schedule
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
June 18
3:00 p.m.
Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
June 18
6:00 p.m.
Pachuca vs. Salzburg
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
June 22
3:00 p.m.
Real Madrid vs. Pachuca
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
June 22
6:00 p.m.
Salzburg vs. Al Hilal
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
June 26
9:00 p.m.
Salzburg vs. Real Madrid
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 26
9:00 p.m.
Al Hilal vs. Pachuca
Geodis Park, Nashville
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Round of 16
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
June 28
12:00 p.m.
M1: 1st Group A vs. 2nd, Group B
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 28
4:00 p.m.
M2: 1st, Group C vs. 2nd Group D
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
June 29
12:00 p.m.
M3: 1st Group B vs. 2nd Group A
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
June 29
4:00 p.m.
M4: 1st, Group D vs. 2nd Group C
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
June 30
3:00 p.m.
M5: 1st Group E vs. 2nd Group F
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
June 30
9:00 p.m.
M6: 1st Group G vs. 2nd Group H
Camping World Stadium, Orlando
July 1
3:00 p.m.
M7: 1st Group H vs. 2nd Group G
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
July 1
9:00 p.m.
M8: 1st Group F vs. 2nd Group E
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Quarterfinals
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
July 4
3:00 p.m.
QF1: Winner, M5 vs. Winner, M6
Camping World Stadium, Orlando
July 4
9:00 p.m.
QF2: Winner, M1vs. Winner, M2
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
July 5
12:00 p.m.
QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M4
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
July 5
4:00 p.m.
QF4: Winner, M7 vs. Winner, M8
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Semifinals
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
July 8
3:00 p.m.
Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF2
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
July 9
3:00 p.m.
Winner, QF3 vs. Winner, QF4
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
July 13
3:00 p.m.
SF winner vs. SF winner
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 venues, cities
Twelve venues will host Club World Cup matches across the United States.
The tournament opener at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami and the final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey have already been slated, with games to be allocated across the below venues following the draw.
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup final, is the largest stadium in use.