The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will take place in the United States this year, from June 14 to July 13. The expanded tournament will feature 32 top club teams in the world. They will battle it out for the title of the greatest club team of the last four seasons. FIFA’s qualification system is based on performances in continental club competitions between 2021 and 2024.
Slot allocations
Some of the biggest names in world soccer will take part, representing famous leagues across the globe. Each confederation receives a few slots to balance representation.
Europe (UEFA) and South America (CONMEBOL) have twelve and six slots, respectively. Asia (AFC) and Africa (CAF) each have four slots. The North, Central American, and Caribbean region (CONCACAF) also have four slots. Oceania (OFC) has one slot, and the USA, as the host nation, will also have one slot.
The teams will have the opportunity to showcase their talent on the international stage. Fans across the United States will be able to see the best clubs in the world in action. Now that online sports betting is legal in many US states, they can also place bets on the outcomes of matches.
Format
In the Group Stage, which lasts until June 26, eight groups of four will play each other once. The winners and runners-up in the groups will go through to the Knockout Stage, which starts on June 28. It will consist of a round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final. If a game ends in a draw, extra time and penalties will determine who goes through.
Fans always want to know which matches they can stream on TV. Now, no official broadcaster has been confirmed by FIFA. It is still currently negotiating prices and the tenure of a potential bid. Apple was reported to offer a billion for the global rights, but this bid fell far short of the amount FIFA is seeking.
Locations of games
With the competition to be held in the USA this year, the games will take place in twelve stadiums in eleven cities.
Excitement is building for the opening match between the Egyptian team, Al Ahly, and Inter Miami, the local heroes. It will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on June 14.
It’s a coup for FIFA that Messi, arguably the best soccer player ever, will be playing in the competition. FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited Inter Miami to participate, a somewhat controversial decision as they aren’t MLS champions.
The second game will be at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, and the third at Lumen Field in Seattle. The fourth and fifth games will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Seven other cities will also host games.
The final will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 13. Various bundled packages are available, such as a Final Round Series that allows guests to secure their semi-final and match final spots.
Will the Club World Cup be competitive?
The expanded format should increase the competition among the elite clubs from six different continents. The European and South American clubs tend to dominate. The UEFA Champions League clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich are great to watch.
Boca Juniors and Palmeiras are South American giants. Some other iconic clubs are Chelsea FC from the U.K. and Juventus from Italy. Each group is likely to have at least two teams from Europe and/or South America.
The trophy and prize pool
There is some trepidation that the tournament creates a congested calendar for top players. They typically have an offseason at this time of the year when their league seasons end. However, it presents a chance to win a prestigious trophy.
The trophy has a 24-carat gold-plated finish and laser-engraved inscriptions on both sides that represent the geographic and cultural diversity of the game. The winner will also take home at least $125 million in prize money.