Everything You Need to Know About the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA

Everything You Need to Know About the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off this Saturday in the United States, bringing a completely new format to one of football’s most ambitious tournaments. This year’s edition is historic — not only is it the first time the tournament will feature 32 clubs, but it will also be held once every four years instead of annually.

What started as a small competition is now being positioned alongside the men’s World Cup in scale and global impact.

What’s New in 2025?

For years, the Club World Cup involved just seven teams. But now, it’s expanding to a whopping 32 clubs from six continents, competing over the span of one month. This change hasn’t come without controversy. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter once called the idea a “mistake.” Yet, FIFA is moving full steam ahead.

One big reason? Money. FIFA has introduced a massive £775 million prize pool, with the winner taking home up to £97 million. For comparison, Real Madrid earned just under £4 million when they won in 2023.

How Did Teams Qualify?

Clubs from all six FIFA football confederations are represented:

• UEFA (Europe)
• CONMEBOL (South America)
• CAF (Africa)
• AFC (Asia)
• CONCACAF (North & Central America)
• OFC (Oceania)

Most teams earned their place by winning their region’s Champions League from 2020–2024. Europe has the highest number of representatives — 12 teams.

Some highlights:

• Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and PSG qualified through UEFA.
• Red Bull Salzburg (competing as FC Salzburg) is Austria’s only club.
• Africa, Asia, and North/Central America each have four slots.
• USA gets an extra place as the host nation.

Club Leon (Mexico) lost its spot due to FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules. Los Angeles FC replaced them after winning a playoff.

Lionel Messi’s Team: Why Is Inter Miami Involved?

Inter Miami is making headlines — not just because they’re in the tournament, but because they feature Lionel Messi. They qualified by winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield.

Critics argue that FIFA wanted Messi in the tournament to boost global interest. Messi has scored 49 goals in 59 matches since joining in 2023.

Which Countries Are Represented?

A total of 20 countries are sending clubs to the tournament. Some include:

• Brazil: Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo
• Argentina: River Plate, Boca Juniors
• England: Chelsea, Manchester City
• Spain: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid
• Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund
• USA: Inter Miami, LAFC, Seattle Sounders
• Others: Urawa Reds (Japan), Wydad AC (Morocco), Al Ahly (Egypt), Porto (Portugal)

✅ Fact: Brazil has the most clubs — 4 in total — thanks to strong Copa Libertadores performances.

Tournament Format: How Will It Work?

The format resembles the traditional World Cup:

• 8 groups of 4 teams
• Top 2 from each group qualify
• No third-place playoff
• Final on 13 July 2025

Group Stage Breakdown:

Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami Group B: PSG, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica Group D: Flamengo, Esperance Tunis, Chelsea, LAFC Group E: River Plate, Urawa Reds, Monterrey, Inter Milan Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, FC Salzburg

Where Will Games Be Played?

Matches will take place across 12 stadiums in the US. Miami hosts the opener; New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium hosts the final.

• Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles)
• Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• Lumen Field (Seattle)
• Camping World Stadium (Orlando)

Prize Money Breakdown

UEFA clubs stand to earn the most. Top-ranked teams can earn £29.6m just for participating.

Where Can You Watch It?

DAZN will stream all 63 matches for free. In the UK, Channel 5 will air 23 games live.

This deal has caused controversy, as DAZN’s partner Surj Sports is backed by Saudi investment. Tournament sponsors include Aramco and PIF.

Why the Backlash?

There’s growing concern about player burnout and overcrowded schedules.

• Rodri and Alisson have spoken out about injury risks.
• Guardiola requested a later Premier League start.
• Kevin De Bruyne said “money speaks louder than players.”

FIFA defends itself, saying it only manages 1% of club matches. But players and unions argue otherwise.

What About the Women’s Euros?

The Club World Cup will overlap with the Women’s Euro 2025 (2–27 July), hosted in Switzerland. FIFA says time zone differences will help, but many worry it may steal attention from the women’s tournament.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Club World Cup is bold and ambitious. Whether it becomes a success or a flop depends on players, fans, and clubs. But one thing is clear — it’s changing the future of club football.

📊 Fun Fact: This is the first time more than 30 clubs are participating, and it’s the first edition ever hosted in the U.S.

🎤 Got Questions? Drop them in the comments. Who are you rooting for?