The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is set to be the largest edition in the tournament’s history. For the first time ever, 32 top football clubs from around the world will compete in a month-long event hosted by the United States. This expanded version promises high-quality football, star players, and exciting matches.
Host Country and Venues
The tournament will be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. Matches will take place across 11 major U.S. cities, in 12 world-class stadiums. These include:
| Stadium | City/State |
|---|---|
| MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California |
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Hard Rock Stadium | Miami, Florida |
| Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Lumen Field | Seattle, Washington |
| Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Geodis Park | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Camping World Stadium | Orlando, Florida |
| Audi Field | Washington, D.C. |
| Inter&Co Stadium | Orlando, Florida |
The final will be played at the MetLife Stadium on July 13.
Tournament Format
- 32 teams divided into 8 groups of 4 teams each
- Each team plays 3 group matches
- The top two teams from each group will move on to the Round of 16.
- After that, the tournament will continue with the Quarter-finals, then the Semi-finals, and finally the Final.
- There will be no third-place match, and the total number of games played will be 63.
Qualified Teams
Clubs have qualified for this tournament based on their performances in their respective continental competitions from 2021 to 2024. The slots are distributed among FIFA’s six confederations:
- UEFA (Europe) – 12 Teams: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Benfica, Porto, Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, and Red Bull Salzburg.
- CONMEBOL (South America) – 6 Teams: Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Botafogo (Copa Libertadores winner).
- CONCACAF (North, Central America & Caribbean) – 5 Teams: Monterrey, Pachuca, Seattle Sounders, Los Angeles FC, and Inter Miami (host nation slot).
- CAF (Africa) – 4 Teams: Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Espérance de Tunis, and Mamelodi Sundowns.
- AFC (Asia) – 4 Teams: Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, and Ulsan Hyundai.
- OFC (Oceania) – 1 Team: Auckland City.
Key Dates
- June 14, 2025: Tournament begins
- June 15–26: Group stage matches
- June 28 – July 1: Round of 16
- July 4–5: Quarter-finals
- July 8–9: Semi-finals
- July 13: Final
The opening matches were played between Inter Miami and Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami.
Where to Watch
In India, FIFA Club World Cup 2025 matches can be streamed live on the FanCode app and website. Additionally, DAZN will offer free global live streaming of all tournament matches. Selected games will also be broadcast on Eurosport TV channels across India
Prize Money
FIFA has announced a huge prize pool of over $1 billion for the 2025 edition. The winning club could receive up to $125 million, making this one of the most lucrative football tournaments in the world.
Why This Edition Matters
- This is the first time the Club World Cup features 32 teams, making it a truly global competition.
- It acts as a test event ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will also be held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
- With clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Inter Miami featuring global stars like Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé, the excitement and competition are at an all-time high.
Conclusion
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is more than just another tournament, it’s a celebration of world football, with top clubs from every continent coming together in the United States. With world-class venues, record-breaking prize money, and superstar players, this edition is set to make history.
Written by Kinjal Walantra
