Sport
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Everything you need to know
This new club competition – the FIFA Club World Cup 202 – will make its debut at a total of 12 stadiums across the United States
FIFA will launch an exciting new club tournament next year that will feature the world’s best 32 teams from the six international football confederations.
This new club competition – the FIFA Club World Cup 202 – will make its debut at a total of 12 stadiums across the United States with the final to be played at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.
The tournament will kick off on June 15 and end on July 13 next year.
This global event will bring together the most successful club sides from each of the six international confederations: AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA.
A total of 12 venues will be used to host the 63 matches which will be played across the United States.
FIFA confirmed the 12 stadiums on Saturday. These are:
MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte), TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), GEODIS Park (Nashville), Camping World Stadium (Orlando), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Lumen Field (Seattle), and Audi Field (Washington, D.C.).
FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement in Central Park, New York and said: “Football is the most popular sport on the planet, and in 2025 a new era for club football will kick off when FIFA stages the greatest, most inclusive and merit-based global club competition right here in the United States.”
“The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will feature 12 fantastic stadiums where a new chapter in football’s global history will be written by great players from the 32 best clubs in the world,” Infantino continued.
“This new FIFA competition is the only true example in worldwide club football of real solidarity and inclusivity, allowing the best clubs from Africa, Asia, Central and North America and Oceania to play the powerhouses of Europe and South America in an incredible new World Cup which will impact enormously the growth of club football and talent globally,” he said.
With the draw set for December, just two of the 32 teams are still to be confirmed: one from South America, the other representing the host country.
How many teams will take part in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and how do they qualify?
- A total of 32 teams will compete in the tournament, with places distributed as follows between the international football confederations.
- Africa – 4 CAF teams. Three via champions pathway (CAF Champions League) and one via ranking pathway.
- Asia – 4 AFC teams. Three via champions pathway (AFC Champions League) and one via ranking pathway.
- Europe – 12 UEFA teams. Four via champions pathway (UEFA Champions League) and eight via ranking pathway.
- North and Central America, Caribbean – 4 Concacaf teams. All via champions pathway (Concacaf Champions Cup).
- Oceania – 1 OFC team. Via ranking pathway.
- South America – 6 CONMEBOL teams. Four via champions pathway (CONMEBOL Libertadores) and two via ranking pathway.
- Host country – 1 team.
Which teams have qualified?
- Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
- Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
- ES Tunis (TUN) – CAF ranking pathway
- Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) – CAF ranking pathway
- Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League
- Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League
- Al Ain (UAE) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League
- Ulsan HD FC (KOR) – AFC ranking pathway
- Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
- Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
- Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
- Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Porto (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Borussia Dortmund (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Juventus (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Atletico Madrid (ESP) – UEFA ranking pathway
- FC Salzburg (AUT) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Club Leon (MEX) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Pachuca (MEX) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway
- Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- River Plate (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
- Boca Juniors (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
What is the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 format?
A group stage composed of eight groups of four teams per group playing in a single-game round-robin format.
The top two teams per group progress to the round of 16.
A direct single-match knockout stage from the round of 16 to the final.
No third-place play-off.