The draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has been made, making the new version of the competition feel a little bit more real ahead of the summer.
The reformatted Club World Cup hasn’t been without controversy – it was originally supposed to debut in China in 2021 until the Covid-19 pandemic pushed it back several years – while many big clubs are missing from a so-called global celebration of football, with some odd qualifiers too.
European teams have been given 12 places, while South America has six. Most expect the eventual winner to come from either of these continents. There are also four each from Asia, Africa and North America, with just one representative from Oceania. No clubs from the same confederation could be drawn into the game group, except for Europe – so half the groups will have two Europeans sides.
Qualification criteria ranged from winning continental titles within the last four years, to high-ranked clubs within each confederation – but a maximum of two per country, and one ‘host’: Inter Miami.
|
Club |
Qualifying route |
|---|---|
|
Palmeiras (BRA) |
2021 Copa Libertadores winners |
|
Porto (POR) |
UEFA ranking |
|
Al Ahly (EGY) |
2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24 CAF Champions League winners |
|
Inter Miami (USA) |
2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners |
|
Club |
Qualifying route |
|---|---|
|
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) |
UEFA ranking |
|
Atletico Madrid (ESP) |
UEFA ranking |
|
Botafogo (BRA) |
2024 Copa Libertadores winners |
|
Seattle Sounders (USA) |
2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners |
|
Club |
Qualifying route |
|---|---|
|
Bayern Munich (GER) |
UEFA ranking |
|
Auckland City (NZL) |
OFC ranking |
|
Boca Juniors (ARG) |
CONMEBOL ranking |
|
Benfica (POR) |
UEFA ranking |
|
Club |
Qualifying route |
|---|---|
|
Flamengo (BRA) |
2022 Copa Libertadores winners |
|
Esperance de Tunis (TUN) |
CAF ranking |
|
Chelsea (ENG) |
2020/21 UEFA Champions League winners |
|
Leon (MEX) |
2023 CONCACAF Champions League winners |
|
Club |
Qualifying route |
|---|---|
|
River Plate (ARG) |
CONMEBOL ranking |
|
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) |
2022 AFC Champions League winners |
|
Monterrey (MEX) |
2021 CONCACAF Champions League winners |
|
Inter (ITA) |
UEFA ranking |
|
Club |
Qualifying route |
|---|---|
|
Fluminense (BRA) |
2023 Copa Libertadores winners |
|
Borussia Dortmund (GER) |
UEFA ranking |
|
Ulsan HD (KOR) |
AFC ranking |
|
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) |
CAF ranking |
|
Club |
Qualifying route |
|---|---|
|
Manchester City (ENG) |
2022/23 UEFA Champions League winners |
|
Wydad (MAR) |
2021/22 CAF Champions League winners |
|
Al Ain (UAE) |
2023/24 AFC Champions League winners |
|
Juventus (ITA) |
UEFA ranking |
|
Club |
Qualifying route |
|---|---|
|
Real Madrid (ESP) |
2021/22 & 2023/24 UEFA Champions League winners |
|
Al Hilal (KSA) |
2021 AFC Champions League winners |
|
Pachuca (MEX) |
2024 CONCACAF Champions League winners |
|
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) |
UEFA ranking |
The tournament will last just under a full month, between 15 June 2025 and 13 July 2025.
The United States will stage the inaugural new version of the competition, with 12 stadiums in 11 cities chosen to host the 63 games that will be played.
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, site of the 1994 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy, and the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey are the two premier venues listed. Charlotte, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, Miami, Orlando, Nashville, Cincinnati and Washington D.C. will also take hosting duties.
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