The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is set to be a historic event, marking the first edition of the expanded 32-team tournament. Scheduled to take place from June 14 to July 13, 2025, across 11 cities and 12 venues in the United States, this edition promises a thrilling showcase of global club football.
The tournament will feature clubs from all six international confederations: AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA. Qualification pathways include winning the top club competitions from 2021 through 2024, alongside additional teams selected based on club rankings over the same period.
The format mirrors that of the FIFA World Cup, with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. Each team will play three matches in a single-game round-robin format within their group. The top two teams from each group will then advance to the round of 16, followed by a direct single-match knockout stage through to the final. There will be no third-place play-off.
The draw for the tournament has already taken place, creating several exciting matchups in the quarter finals. One of the most anticipated is Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) against Bayern Munich. PSG, qualifying through UEFA's ranking pathway, will face a tough challenge against the German powerhouse. Bayern Munich also qualified through the UEFA ranking pathway.
Another highlight of the quarter finals will see Real Madrid take on Borussia Dortmund. Real Madrid, a dominant force in the UEFA Champions League, secured their spot by winning the competition in both 2021/22 and 2023/24. Borussia Dortmund also qualified through UEFA ranking pathway.
Other teams that have qualified for the quarter-finals include Palmeiras, Chelsea, Fluminense and Al-Hilal.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is not only about thrilling matches but also about the prestige and financial rewards. There is $1 billion USD of prize money up for grabs. The tournament is expected to draw massive crowds and generate significant interest worldwide.