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

A novel idea, and one that arrived with high expectations, is finally commencing. Thirty-two teams, each with distinct origins, histories, and geographical regions, will face off in a battle of the best clubs worldwide.

Here is how the 32 teams will stack up ahead of Sunday’s matchups:

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

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

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

Group D: Chelsea, ES Tunis, Flamengo, Los Angeles FC

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

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

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

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

The clubs that qualified in this competition were successful in their respective geographic areas, as FIFA suggests:

Clubs qualified as Continental champions

Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23, and 2023/24 CAF Champions League

Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League

Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League

Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League

Al Ain (UAE) - 2023/24 AFC Champions League

Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League

Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League

Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup

Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup

Pachuca (MEX) - 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup

Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores

Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores

Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores

Botafogo (BRA) - 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores

Clubs qualified via ranking

Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway

Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway

Porto (POR) - UEFA ranking pathway

Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway

Borussia Dortmund (GER) - UEFA ranking pathway

Juventus (ITA) - UEFA ranking pathway

Atletico Madrid (ESP) - UEFA ranking pathway

FC Salzburg (AUT) - UEFA ranking pathway

Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway

Ulsan HD FC (KOR) - AFC ranking pathway

ES Tunis (TUN) - CAF ranking pathway

Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) - CAF ranking pathway

River Plate (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway

Boca Juniors (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway

Host nation slot

Inter Miami (USA) – MLS Supporters' Shield winners (2024)

FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ Play-In

Los Angeles Football Club (USA) - Play-In winner

As the awaited matchups begin, a battle of nations and teams will be exciting, and the winner is far from expected. The World Cup will be played throughout the USA and will take place from June to July.

A round-robin double elimination first round will leave the top 16 teams (two teams progressing per group), which will then play single elimination games all the way to the final. Notably, there will not be a third-place play-off, as per FIFA.

A full list of all the fixtures as of Sunday can be viewed here:

https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/club-world-cup/usa-2025/articles/match-schedule-fixtures-results-groups-teams-stadiums