FIFA Club World Cup 2025: When is it, who is taking part and how does it work?

The newly restructured FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled to take place in the United States this summer from June 15 to July 13.

There have been major changes to the tournament, which was previously held annually with only seven teams but will now feature 32 teams and take place every four years.

The tournament will feature clubs from all six football confederations: Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North and Central America (CONCACAF), South America (CONMEBOL), Oceania (OFC), and Europe (UEFA).

European clubs have been allocated 12 spots, the highest among the confederations. Qualification was determined by club performances in the Champions League over the past four seasons, meaning that past winners such as Chelsea, Manchester City, and Real Madrid have secured their places.

Additional European teams qualified through UEFA’s ranking system, though a limit of two clubs per country meant Liverpool missed out despite their strong showing in the 2022 Champions League.

Asia, Africa, and the North and Central American federations each have four allocated slots, while South America has six and Oceania has one.

How is the FIFA Club World Cup structured?

The structure of the revamped Club World Cup mirrors that of FIFA’s international tournaments.

The 32 teams are split into eight groups of four, with each team playing the others in a round-robin format.

The top two from each group advance to the knockout stages. However, unlike the World Cup, this tournament will not include a third-place play-off. The final is set for July 13, 2025.

32 clubs, one world champion.

The road to #FIFACWC glory kicks off in 100 days! 🗺️🇺🇸#TakeItToTheWorld

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) March 6, 2025

Who is taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup?

Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica

Group D: Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, Chelsea, Club Leon

Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg

Why is Lionel Messi and Inter Miami playing in the FIFA Club World Cup?

A spot in the tournament is reserved for a club from the host nation, and FIFA awarded this place to Inter Miami based on their 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield victory, given to the team with the best regular-season record.

Although Inter Miami were eliminated in the MLS playoffs and are not the league champions, their invitation has sparked debate, with some interpreting it as FIFA’s effort to ensure Lionel Messi’s participation in a tournament that has yet to generate widespread excitement.

🇧🇷🌟 pic.twitter.com/35tu7QRiRR

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) March 18, 2025

Where will the FIFA Club World Cup matches be played?

The tournament will be held across 12 stadiums in the United States, one year before the nation co-hosts the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. Matches will be played in:

Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Charlotte: TQL Stadium

Cincinnati: Bank of America Stadium

Los Angeles: Rose Bowl Stadium

Miami: Hard Rock Stadium (opening match)

Nashville: GEODIS Park

New Jersey: MetLife Stadium (final match)

Orlando: Camping World Stadium & Inter&Co Stadium

Philadelphia: Lincoln Financial Field

Seattle: Lumen Field

Washington D.C.: Audi Field

Where to watch the FIFA Club World Cup: TV channel, online stream

The streaming platform DAZN has secured exclusive broadcasting rights and will stream all 63 matches for free. There is also the potential for sublicensing to local free-to-air broadcasters.

Why is the FIFA Club World Cup controversial?

FIFA is currently facing legal action from player unions and leagues due to scheduling concerns.

Critics argue that the football calendar is becoming “oversaturated,” raising risks to player safety and well-being.

Some players, such as Liverpool’s Alisson and Manchester City’s Rodri, have openly voiced concerns about the increasing number of matches. The timing of the tournament is another issue, as there are only five weeks between the Club World Cup final and the start of the 2025-26 Premier League season on August 16.

The Club World Cup also partially overlaps with the Women’s Euro 2025, which runs from July 2-27.