The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 explained
At 19:00 CET today, the draw for the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will take place, with Paris Saint-Germain set to take part in the brand-new format of the tournament. So, here’s everything you need to know.
With the next edition of the FIFA World Cup being held in Canada, the United States and Mexico in 2026, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which is due to take place from 15th June to 13th July 2025 in the US, will act as a kind of dress rehearsal for 2026 and will use the FIFA World Cup's traditional 32-team format.
32 TEAMS FROM SIX continents
Africa (CAF):
Al Ahly FC (EGY) – Winners of the 2020–21, 2022–23 and 2023–24 CAF Champions League
Wydad AC (MAR) – Winners of the 2021–22 CAF Champions League
ES Tunis (TUN) – CAF four-year ranking
Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA) – CAF four-year ranking
Asia (AFC):
Al Hilal (KSA) – Winners of the 2021 AFC Champions League
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – Winners of the 2022 AFC Champions League
Al Ain FC (UAE) – Winners of the 2024 AFC Champions League
Ulsan HD (KOR) – AFC four-year ranking
Europe (UEFA):
Chelsea FC (ENG) – Winners of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid CF (ESP) – Winners of the 2021–22 and 2023–24 UEFA Champions League
Manchester City FC (ENG) – Winners of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League
FC Bayern München (GER) – UEFA four-year ranking
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA four-year ranking
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) – UEFA four-year ranking
FC Porto (POR) – UEFA four-year ranking
SL Benfica (POR) – UEFA four-year ranking
Borussia Dortmund (GER) – UEFA four-year ranking
Juventus FC (ITA) – UEFA four-year ranking
Atlético de Madrid (ESP) – UEFA four-year ranking
FC Salzburg (AUT) – UEFA four-year ranking
North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF):
Inter Miami CF (USA) – Host club
CF Monterrey (MEX) – Winners of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League
Seattle Sounders FC (USA) – Winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League
Club León (MEX) – Winners of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League
CF Pachuca (MEX) – Winners of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League
Oceania (OFC):
Auckland City FC (NZL) – OFC four-year ranking
South America (CONMEBOL):
SE Palmeiras (BRA) – Winners of the 2021 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores
CR Flamengo (BRA) – Winners of the 2022 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores
Fluminense FC (BRA) – Winners of the 2023 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores
Botafogo (BRA) – Winners of the 2024 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores
CA River Plate (ARG) – CONMEBOL four-year ranking
CA Boca Juniors (ARG) – CONMEBOL four-year ranking
12 venues will host the 63 matches that will be played across the United States, with the final set to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
THE POTS
Pot 1
Manchester City FC (ENG)
Real Madrid CF (ESP)
FC Bayern München (GER)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
CR Flamengo (BRA)
SE Palmeiras (BRA)
CA River Plate (ARG)
Fluminense FC (BRA)
Pot 2
Chelsea FC (ENG)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)
FC Porto (POR)
Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
SL Benfica (POR)
Juventus FC (ITA)
FC Salzburg (AUT)
Pot 3
Al Hilal (KSA)
Ulsan HD (KOR)
Al Ahly FC (EGY)
Wydad AC (MOR)
CF Monterrey (MEX)
Club León (MEX)
CA Boca Juniors (ARG)
Botafogo (BRA)
Pot 4
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
Al Ain FC (UAE)
ES Tunis (TUN)
Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA)
CF Pachuca (MEX)
Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
Auckland City FC (NZL)
Inter Miami CF (USA)
THE FORMAT
The competition will begin with a group stage featuring eight groups of four teams, where each team will play the other teams in their group once.
The teams that finish in the two top positions in each group will then go through to the round of 16.
From there to the final, a direct, single-match knockout stage will take place, with no third-place play-off scheduled.
Follow the group-stage draw live and in full on Paris Saint-Germain's Twitch and YouTube channels
as well as on PSG TV from 19:00 CET!