Introducing the New FIFA Club World Cup Format
This summer marks the launch of a brand new FIFA Club World Cup format, featuring several Premier League teams competing in the new-look competition. FIFA announced in December that the tournament will expand to 32 teams and will take place every four years, with the inaugural revamped tournament set for the summer of 2025.
What is the FIFA Club World Cup?
The Club World Cup, prior to its revamp, was an annual event held in December, contested by the winners of various continental club competitions from around the globe. Historically, it featured only seven teams. The revamped version will incorporate 32 teams and replace the previous annual format with a four-year cycle.
Key Features of the 2025 Club World Cup
The upgrades to the tournament include the following key features:
- Expanded Team Participation: The format will now include teams from various continents, providing a more inclusive competition.
- Intercontinental Cup: An annual Intercontinental Cup will replace the current annual tournament, featuring the UEFA Champions League winner against a team from intercontinental playoffs.
When Will the Club World Cup Occur?
The next Club World Cup is scheduled to take place over a span of 29 days, beginning June 15, 2025, with the final match occurring on July 13, 2025.
Where Will the 2025 Club World Cup Be Hosted?
The tournament will be hosted in the United States, with matches occurring in 12 prominent stadiums across various cities, including:
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
- Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
- TQL Stadium (Cincinnati)
- Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles)
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
- GEODIS Park (Nashville)
- Camping World Stadium (Orlando)
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
- Lumen Field (Seattle)
- Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
Qualification Process for the Club World Cup
With the expansion to 32 teams, Europe will have a considerable representation of 12 clubs based on their performances in the Champions League over four seasons from 2020-21 to the current season.
Additionally, teams from other confederations will qualify as follows:
- AFC: 4 teams
- CAF: 4 teams
- CONCACAF: 4 teams
- CONMEBOL: 6 teams
- OFC: 1 team
- Host Nation: 1 team
Participating Teams in the 2025 Club World Cup
The teams confirmed to participate from Europe include:
- Manchester City
- Real Madrid
- Chelsea
- Bayern Munich
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Inter Milan
- Porto
- Benfica
- Borussia Dortmund
- Juventus
- Red Bull Salzburg
- Atletico Madrid
Other participating teams include:
- Oceania: Auckland City
- South America: Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, River Plate, Boca Juniors, TBD (winner of 2024 Copa Libertadores)
- North America: Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Leon, Pachuca, TBC (host nation slot)
- Africa: Al Ahly, Wydad, Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns
- Asia: Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Ulsan HD
How the Tournament Works
The format of the tournament will resemble that of the FIFA World Cup, with divisions into eight groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage leading to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. Notably, there won't be a third-placed playoff.
Upcoming Draw Date
The draw for the 2025 Club World Cup is set to take place in December 2024. Stay tuned for updates as more details unfold regarding this exciting tournament.
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