The Club World Cup has, until this year, been little more than a series of glorified friendlies between the winners of the various elite competitions across the globe, such as the Champions League and the CONMEBOL Libertadores
This all changes in just over a week as FIFA’s new, dramatically expanded Club World Cup kicks off, mirroring its big brother played every four years between nations. The Club World Cup takes the same idea and thrusts the most successful teams in Club football and pits them against each other every four years, giving its eventual winners something to crow about during the ensuing period.
It hasn’t all been rosy, though, with many clubs and players complaining of fixture congestion, player burnout, and a dCONMEBOL Libertadoresistinct lack of rest time for athletes. Just like the “rel” World Cup, there are plenty of minnows involved hoping to cause the occasional shock, alongside the big elite teams who will be among the favorites for the trophy lift come Final Day.
Where is the 2025 Club World Cup being held?
The first of this new iteration of the Club World Cup takes place in the USA, with stadiums around the country being used:
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA
- TQL Stadium – Cincinnati, OH
- Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
- Rose Bowl Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
- Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, FL
- GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN
- MetLife Stadium – New York, New Jersey
- Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL
- Inter&Co Stadium – Orlando, FL
- Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
- Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
- Audi Field – Washington, D.C.
When is the 2025 Club World Cup?
Held in June and July, the tournament kicks off on Saturday, 14th June, with the game between Al Ahly FC and Inter Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The Final will take place almost a month later at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, July 13th.
Which teams are in the 2025 Club World Cup?
32 clubs from AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA will feature in this new global event, and here they all are, as well as how they qualified.
- Al Ahly FC (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
- Wydad AC (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
- Espérance (TUN) – CAF ranking pathway
- Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA) – CAF ranking pathway
- Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League
- Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League
- Al Ain FC (UAE) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League
- Ulsan HD (KOR) – AFC ranking pathway
- Chelsea FC (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
- Real Madrid C. F. (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
- Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
- FC Bayern München (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway
- FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
- FC Porto (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
- SL Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Borussia Dortmund (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Juventus FC (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
- Atlético de Madrid (ESP) – UEFA ranking pathway
- FC Salzburg (AUT) – UEFA ranking pathway
- CF Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Seattle Sounders FC (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
- CF Pachuca (MEX) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Auckland City FC (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway
- SE Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- CR Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- Fluminense FC (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- Botafogo (BRA) – 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores
- CA River Plate (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
- CA Boca Juniors (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
- Inter Miami CF (USA) – Host nation slot
- LAFC (USA) – FIFA Club World Cup Play-In
Who will win the 2025 Club World Cup?
Ah, the million-dollar question. Many of the Elite teams in Europe have qualified, so it is hard to look beyond them, although the two main favorites, Real Madrid and Manchester City, have both been experiencing some upheaval of late. Madrid has just changed head coach, and City had their most disappointing season in almost a decade, leading coach Pep Guardiola to bring in an influx of new players, all expected to arrive before the teams jet to the States.
Could that leave the door open for freshly crowned European Champions Paris St Germain after a magnificent season to add the World crown to its European one?
US interest for the home fans comes from Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami (50/1) and LAFC (66/1), and South American flags will be flying for the likes of River Plate (33/1), Boca Juniors (33/1), Fluminense (40/1), and Palmeiras (28/1).
It’s going to be really interesting to see this global mix of teams and talent and how it plays out. Obviously, in the national World Cup, all the players must hail from the same country; that is not the case here. Could we see a South American win it for a European team?
Paddy Power has the top nine favorites all coming from Europe.
- Real Madrid 4/1
- Manchester City 5/1
- Paris St Germain 5/1
- Bayern Munich 13/2
- Chelsea 9/1
- Inter Milan 12/1
- Athletico Madrid 12/1
- Borussia Dortmund 22/1
- Juventus 22/1
- Flemengo 28/1
Barring a major disaster, we can’t really see the winner coming from outside that top three, four at a pinch. Inter Milan are capable of grinding out success, but after their thrashing in the Champions League final earlier this month and a subsequent management change, they have a lot going on. Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich has some great players and a talismanic scorer in Harry Kane, but do they have enough to be right up there? Time will tell.
Featured Image courtesy of Pexels.
