The expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, hosted across the United States from June 14th to July 13th, has reached its knockout stage. Featuring 32 teams for the first time, mirroring the FIFA World Cup format, the competition has already delivered numerous surprises and thrilling matches. The tournament began with a group stage, dividing teams into eight groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the round of 16.
Early matches saw a mix of expected results and surprising upsets. Inter Miami CF, representing the host nation, drew 0-0 with Al Ahly. Bayern Munich dominated Auckland City with a 10-0 victory, while Paris Saint-Germain defeated Atletico Madrid 4-0. Botafogo upset Seattle Sounders 2-1. Flamengo defeated Esperance de Tunis. Chelsea won against LAFC.
As the tournament progressed, several teams secured their places in the knockout stage early on. Manchester City, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Flamengo, and Palmeiras emerged as group winners. Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Inter Miami, Botafogo, Monterrey, Fluminense and Al-Hilal secured their passage to the last-16 by finishing 2nd.
The Round of 16 is scheduled from June 28th to July 1st. Key matchups include Palmeiras vs Botafogo RJ, Benfica vs Chelsea on June 28th, PSG vs Inter Miami, Flamengo RJ vs Bayern Munich on June 29th, Inter vs Fluminense, Manchester City vs Al Hilal on June 30th, Real Madrid vs Juventus and Dortmund vs Monterrey on July 1st.
The Quarter-Finals will be held on July 4th and 5th. The Semifinals are slated for July 8th and 9th, building up to the final on July 13th at MetLife Stadium. Unlike the FIFA World Cup, the Club World Cup will not feature a third-place playoff.
Several high-profile teams entered the competition with the aim of securing the title. Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Inter Milan, all seeking to add the Club World Cup to their trophy cabinets. Meanwhile, teams like Inter Miami and Al-Hilal hope to make an impact as underdogs.
The tournament is being held in 12 venues across 11 cities in the United States. The opening match was held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the final, as well as two semi-finals and one quarter-final. Other venues include Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The expanded format and the presence of top clubs from around the world have generated considerable excitement for the tournament. However, concerns have also been raised regarding the physical demands on players, the quality of the pitches, and the level of attendance at some matches.
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