FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Full Guide to the Biggest Club Tournament Yet

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is shaping up to be a groundbreaking event in international football. With a new format, expanded participation, and the United States as the host, this edition promises to revolutionize the way global club football is viewed and celebrated.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the FIFA Club World Cup 2025—teams, schedule, host country, stadiums, how teams qualified, format changes, and more.

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Table of Contents

1. Overview of FIFA Club World Cup 2025

2. New Format Explained

3. Host Country: Why the USA Was Chosen

4. Qualified Teams by Confederation

5. Detailed Team List

6. Stadiums & Host Cities

7. Full Match Schedule (TBD)

8. Prize Money & Commercial Aspects

9. Broadcasting Rights

10. Historical Background of Club World Cup

11. How the Teams Qualified

12. Notable Players to Watch

13. Controversies & Criticism

14. Predictions & Favorites

15. How to Watch the Matches

16. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

17. Conclusion

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1. Overview of FIFA Club World Cup 2025

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 marks the first-ever expanded version of the tournament, increasing from 7 to 32 teams, similar to the FIFA World Cup format. Scheduled to take place in June-July 2025, the event is poised to be one of the most commercially and competitively significant tournaments in club football.

Key Details:

• Event: FIFA Club World Cup 2025

• Edition: First with 32 clubs

• Dates: June–July 2025 (exact schedule TBD)

• Host Country: United States

• Number of Teams: 32

• Confederations Represented: 6 (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, UEFA)

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2. New Format Explained

FIFA’s 2025 Club World Cup will replicate the World Cup-style format:

• 8 Groups of 4 teams each

• Top 2 teams from each group advance to Round of 16

• Single elimination matches from Round of 16 to Final

• No third-place match

This update aims to boost competitiveness, global exposure, and audience participation.

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3. Host Country: Why the USA Was Chosen

The United States was officially named the host in 2023 due to:

• Advanced infrastructure (stadiums, transport, hotels)

• Huge market for media and commercial sponsorship

• Growing football fanbase (especially post-MLS and 2026 World Cup)

• Proven success in hosting large tournaments (e.g., 1994 FIFA World Cup, 2026 WC)

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4. Qualified Teams by Confederation

FIFA allocated 32 slots as follows:

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5. Full List of Confirmed Clubs (as of July 2025)

Note: More teams will be confirmed based on results through 2024–2025 season.

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6. Stadiums & Host Cities in the USA

FIFA will likely use stadiums already approved for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including:

FIFA will confirm the final venues by late 2024.

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7. Full Match Schedule (TBD)

The schedule is expected to include:

• Group Stage: June 15–July 2, 2025

• Round of 16: July 4–6

• Quarterfinals: July 8–9

• Semifinals: July 12–13

• Final: July 16

FIFA will officially announce the matchdays and venues soon.

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8. Prize Money & Commercial Aspects

Expected prize money: over $1 billion in total commercial revenue
Individual prizes expected:

• Winner: ~$100 million

• Runner-Up: ~$50 million

Revenue will come from:

• Sponsorships (Adidas, Coca-Cola, Visa)

• Broadcasting rights

• Stadium tickets

• Licensing and merchandise

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9. Broadcasting Rights

The tournament will be globally televised with rights going to:

• FOX Sports (USA)

• Sky Sports (UK)

• Sony Sports (India)

• beIN Sports (MENA)

• ESPN (South America)

FIFA is leveraging this tournament to test its audience reach before the 2026 World Cup.

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10. History of the Club World Cup

The tournament began in 2000 in Brazil and became a regular in 2005.

Past Winners:

The 2025 edition is being called the “Club World Cup 2.0” due to its new magnitude.

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11. How the Teams Qualified

Teams earned places based on:

• Winning continental championships (UCL, Copa Libertadores, etc.)

• Ranking of points for top-performing clubs

• Special allocation for host nation

UEFA and CONMEBOL slots were competitive due to the number of elite clubs in each region.

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12. Star Players to Watch

Some confirmed and likely participants:

• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

• Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid)

• Mo Salah (Al Ahly)

• Pedro (Flamengo)

• Riyad Mahrez (Al Hilal)

Expect major global attention on star-studded squads.

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13. Controversies & Criticism

• Fixture congestion: European clubs worry about player overload.

• Club vs country debate: National leagues and managers may clash with club interests.

• Commercialization: Some critics argue the move is profit-driven rather than merit-based.

• Travel strain: Long-distance travel across the US may tire players.

FIFA has defended the decision as “historic and inclusive.”

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14. Predictions & Favorites

Likely Finalists:

• Manchester City

• Real Madrid

• Chelsea

• Palmeiras

• Flamengo

UEFA clubs are seen as favorites, but surprise performances from CONMEBOL and CAF teams could shake things up.

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15. How to Watch

You can stream or watch FIFA Club World Cup 2025 via:

• TV: FOX Sports, Sony Sports, Sky Sports

• Streaming: FIFA+, Hulu Live, SonyLIV, FuboTV

• In-person: Tickets to go on sale in late 2024 on FIFA.com

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16. FAQs

Q1: When is the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
A: It will be held in June–July 2025.

Q2: Where is it being held?
A: United States.

Q3: How many teams are participating?
A: 32 teams from 6 confederations.

Q4: Is it the same as the World Cup?
A: No, it’s for club teams, not national teams.

Q5: Where can I get tickets?
A: FIFA.com will handle ticketing starting in late 2024.

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17. Conclusion

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is more than just a tournament—it’s a global spectacle of footballing excellence. With the world’s best clubs from every continent set to compete in a reimagined format, it could usher in a new era of club football.

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