2025 FIFA Club World Cup Guide: Teams, Groups, Schedule & How to Watch

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is the 21st edition of FIFA’s premier club competition, and the first to feature an expanded 32-team format. Scheduled from June 14 to July 13, 2025 in the United States, this tournament is envisioned as a milestone event – a “prelude” to the 2026 FIFA World Cup that the U.S. will co-host. The expansion dramatically increases the tournament’s scale and global appeal, bringing together champion clubs from every continent to compete for the title of world club champion. Defending champions Manchester City (winners of the 2023 Club World Cup) headline the field. This new quadrennial format (initially slated for 2021 but delayed by COVID-19) has been lauded as a game-changer in club football, though it also raised concerns about added fixture congestion and player workload. Overall, the 2025 edition’s significance lies in its unprecedented size and its role in showcasing elite clubs worldwide on a grand stage similar to a national World Cup.

2025 Tournament Format

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will adopt a format akin to the FIFA World Cup structure. The 32 qualified clubs are divided into eight groups of four, with each team playing a round-robin within its group. The top two teams from each group advance to a 16-team knockout stage (Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final). Notably, there will be no third-place playoff, marking a slight deviation from traditional World Cup formats.

Qualification for this expanded tournament was earned primarily by continental champions over the past four seasons. FIFA allocated slots to each confederation so that the winners of the top club competitions in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 (such as the UEFA Champions League, Copa Libertadores, CONCACAF Champions League, etc.) all qualified. Additional slots were filled via FIFA’s club ranking criteria to reach 32 teams, with a cap of two clubs per country (unless a country had multiple continental champions). The United States, as host, received one automatic berth – which went to Inter Miami CF (the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield winner) as the host representative. This format ensures that the Club World Cup 2025 teams represent a broad competitive cross-section of global club football, truly making it a “World Cup” for clubs.

Teams and Group Draw

The draw for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 was held in December 2024, placing the 32 clubs into eight groups (A through H) of four teams each. Below is a breakdown of each group and the teams in it:

• Group A – Palmeiras (Brazil), FC Porto (Portugal), Al Ahly (Egypt), Inter Miami CF (USA).
• Group B – Paris Saint-Germain (France), Atlético Madrid (Spain), Botafogo (Brazil), Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
• Group C – Bayern Munich (Germany), Auckland City (New Zealand), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Benfica (Portugal).
• Group D – Flamengo (Brazil), Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), Chelsea (England), Los Angeles FC (USA).
• Group E – River Plate (Argentina), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Monterrey (Mexico), Inter Milan (Italy).
• Group F – Fluminense (Brazil), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).
• Group G – Manchester City (England), Wydad AC (Morocco), Al Ain (UAE), Juventus (Italy).
• Group H – Real Madrid (Spain), Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Pachuca (Mexico), Red Bull Salzburg (Austria).

These groups set up some exciting early encounters – for instance, Manchester City and Real Madrid, recent UEFA Champions League winners, headline Groups G and H respectively, while legendary South American rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate are drawn in Groups C and E. With clubs from six confederations, fans will see a mix of European powerhouses, South American giants, and champions from Asia, Africa, North America, and Oceania all competing under one tournament for the first time.

Opening Match Schedule

The Club World Cup 2025 match schedule begins mid-June 2025, with each group’s opening matches spread across the first week. Below are the key opening fixtures and dates (all local U.S. Eastern Time or Pacific Time as noted):

• June 14, 2025 – Opening Match: Inter Miami CF vs. Al Ahly (Group A) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens (8:00 pm EDT). This game, featuring the host nation’s club, officially kicks off the tournament.
• June 15, 2025 – Group B and C openers: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid in Pasadena (Rose Bowl, 12:00 pm PDT), and Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City in Cincinnati (TQL Stadium, 12:00 pm EDT). Group B’s second match, Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders, will be later that evening in Seattle.
• June 16, 2025 – Group D kicks off with Chelsea vs. Los Angeles FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (3:00 pm EDT), followed by Flamengo vs. Espérance de Tunis in Philadelphia (9:00 pm EDT).
• June 17, 2025 – Group E and F openers: River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds in Seattle (Lumen Field, 12:00 pm PDT), and Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund in East Rutherford, NJ (MetLife Stadium, 12:00 pm EDT). Later that day, Monterrey vs. Inter Milan plays in Pasadena.
• June 18, 2025 – Group G and H openers: Manchester City vs. Wydad AC in Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field, 12:00 pm EDT), and Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal in Miami Gardens (Hard Rock Stadium, 3:00 pm EDT). Group H’s other opening game, Pachuca vs. Salzburg, follows in Cincinnati that evening.
  
  

These opening matches set the tone for the tournament, featuring several marquee clubs. Notably, the very first match sees Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami (as host) take on African champions Al Ahly, ensuring a packed Hard Rock Stadium to launch the competition. In the following days, European giants like PSG, Bayern, Chelsea, and Real Madrid make their debuts, while venues from coast to coast – from Seattle and Los Angeles to New York/New Jersey – host their first games. Fans can look forward to almost daily action through the group stage, as all 32 clubs get underway between June 14 and June 18.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Thanks to a groundbreaking media rights agreement, the 2025 Club World Cup will be widely accessible to fans around the globe. FIFA struck a deal with DAZN – the international sports streaming service – to be the exclusive global broadcaster for this tournament. In an effort to maximize viewership for this inaugural 32-team event, DAZN will stream every match of the Club World Cup 2025 live and free of charge worldwide. This means that in many regions, fans can watch all matches online via the DAZN platform without any paywall, a unique move intended to boost global interest in the competition. Below are region-specific viewing details:

• Canada: Canadian fans can stream all 63 matches on DAZN, which secured the rights as part of the global deal. DAZN is already well-established in Canada (carrying UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, etc.), and for this tournament it will carry the Club World Cup games live. There may not be a traditional TV broadcast in Canada, so DAZN’s free stream is the primary way to watch.
• United States: In the U.S., FIFA has partnered with broadcasters for both English and Spanish coverage. TNT Sports will broadcast matches in English (through Turner’s platforms) and TelevisaUnivision will air matches in Spanish. Expect many games on TNT/TBS or their streaming app (for English), and on Univision/TUDN or ViX streaming (for Spanish). Not all matches may air on traditional TV, but marquee games (and likely all knockout games) should be televised. U.S. viewers can also use DAZN’s streaming as an alternative or to catch any games not on TV.
• Europe: Broadcast arrangements in Europe vary by country. Many European nations will have games on free-to-air or cable sports channels, often through deals facilitated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). For example, in the United Kingdom, national broadcaster Channel 5 has picked up rights and will show 23 matches live free-to-air – including key fixtures and likely the final. In Spain, Mediaset   will broadcast one match per day (likely featuring Spanish or high-profile teams). Other countries like Italy, Germany, France etc. will have coverage on their local sports networks or public broadcasters. European fans also have the option to stream on DAZN, especially in countries where DAZN operates directly.
• Other Regions: In addition to the above, FIFA secured numerous deals to ensure truly global coverage. For instance, across Latin America (South America outside Brazil), DSports (DirecTV Sports) will air all matches, and certain matches will stream on Disney+ in Argentina (for games involving Argentine clubs). In Brazil, a separate deal is expected – historically TV Globo or SporTV would cover major FIFA events. In Sub-Saharan Africa, fans can watch on pay-TV providers like SuperSport (through platforms such as Azam TV, StarTimes, and Showmax) which will carry all matches live. In Asia, various broadcasters and streaming services have rights: for example, Coupang Play will stream all games in South Korea, and FPT Play is providing coverage in Vietnam. The Middle East and North Africa are likely covered by regional sports networks such as beIN Sports. Wherever you are in the world, you should check your local sports channels for “FIFA Club World Cup 2025” broadcasts – but if it’s not on TV, the official FIFA/DAZN live stream will be available globally as a reliable way to watch every match online.

Overall, FIFA’s partnership with DAZN and various broadcasters will make the Club World Cup 2025 the most widely accessible edition ever, fulfilling the goal of bringing this new-format tournament to a global audience. Whether on television or via streaming, fans in Canada, the USA, Europe and beyond will have plenty of options to catch all the matches live.

Host Country and Venues

The host country for the 2025 Club World Cup is the United States of America, marking the first time the Club World Cup is held on U.S. soil. FIFA selected 12 stadiums in 11 cities across the U.S. to stage the tournament’s 63 matches. These venues were chosen to provide world-class facilities and to geographically spread the matches, while also serving as a test run for some locations ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The host cities and stadiums are:

• Miami Gardens, Florida – Hard Rock Stadium (opening match venue, home of NFL’s Dolphins).
• East Rutherford, New Jersey (NYC area) – MetLife Stadium (will host the final on July 13, 2025).
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Lincoln Financial Field.
• Washington, D.C. – Audi Field.
• Seattle, Washington – Lumen Field.
• Pasadena, California (Los Angeles area) – Rose Bowl.
• Cincinnati, Ohio – TQL Stadium.
• Charlotte, North Carolina – Bank of America Stadium.
• Atlanta, Georgia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
• Orlando, Florida – Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium (two venues in Orlando).
• Nashville, Tennessee – Geodis Park.

These stadiums range from iconic large venues like the 88,000-seat Rose Bowl and the 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium, to soccer-specific grounds like Geodis Park in Nashville (30,000 capacity). Notably, five of the chosen venues – including MetLife, Hard Rock, and others – are also slated to host matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which underscores how the Club World Cup is helping venues and organizers prepare for the massive event the following year. All venues will retain their usual commercial naming rights during the tournament (unlike the World Cup which uses generic venue names), so stadiums like “Mercedes-Benz Stadium” and “Camping World Stadium” will be referred to by their branded names during broadcasts.

The selection of the USA as host offers several advantages: it leverages modern infrastructure and large stadiums, and it positions the tournament in a favorable time zone for European TV audiences (most games are scheduled in U.S. afternoon/evening, which translates to prime time or late night in Europe). Additionally, hosting in mid-2025 provides an operational testing opportunity ahead of the 2026 World Cup. For local fans in the U.S. and visiting supporters, the tournament will be a festival of club football, with cities like Miami, Seattle, and New York each getting a taste of the action. The venues will see matchups that are rarely, if ever, played on American soil – for example, European clubs facing Asian or African champions – giving American audiences a unique live experience.

In summary, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be a landmark event in global football. With a new format bringing 32 teams together, a jam-packed match schedule from mid-June to mid-July, and broad global broadcast coverage (from traditional TV networks in various countries to a free worldwide stream), the tournament is set to reach more fans than ever before. The host nation USA and its 12 venues are gearing up to deliver a spectacular show, making this expanded Club World Cup a perfect appetizer for the World Cup to come. Football enthusiasts around the world can look forward to seeing the “Club World Cup 2025” teams – from Real Madrid and Manchester City to Al Ahly and Auckland City – battle it out for the ultimate club supremacy, in what will truly be a global celebration of the club game.

FAQ

What is the new format for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

The 2025 edition features 32 clubs split into eight groups of four, followed by a 16-team knockout stage—mirroring the men’s World Cup structure.

Which teams are in Group G at the Club World Cup 2025?

Group G includes Manchester City, Wydad AC, Al Ain, and Juventus—setting up a highly anticipated clash between recent European and African champions.

When does the 2025 Club World Cup start and end?

The tournament runs from June 14 to July 13, 2025, with the opening match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

How can I watch the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in Canada and the U.S.?

Every match streams free on DAZN worldwide; U.S. viewers also get English coverage on TNT Sports and Spanish coverage on TelevisaUnivision channels and ViX.

Which U.S. cities will host Club World Cup 2025 matches?

Twelve stadiums in eleven cities—including Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles (Pasadena), Philadelphia, Atlanta, and New York/New Jersey—will stage the 63 matches.