In a major shake-up for international club football, FIFA is set to launch a dramatically expanded Club World Cup in June 2025 across multiple cities in the United States. The prestigious tournament, which previously featured just seven teams, will now showcase 32 of the world’s top clubs battling it out for global supremacy. Here’s everything you need to know about this groundbreaking event.
New Format, Bigger Stakes
The revamped FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will adopt a format resembling the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League. The 32 qualified teams will be drawn into eight groups of four, playing each other once. The top two from each group advance to a knockout stage, culminating in a final to crown the world’s greatest club.
Matches will be spread across 12 U.S. cities, with the opening game at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on June 15 and the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13. A total of 63 games will be crammed into the 28-day football extravaganza.
Qualifying Criteria and Participants
Clubs primarily qualified by winning a continental title in the last four seasons or based on their performance in top-level competitions during that period. Europe’s UEFA has the most slots with 12, while South America’s CONMEBOL secured six spots. Concacaf, Asia, and Africa each have four, with one place for Oceania.
Among the 31 teams confirmed so far are Champions League winners Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. South American champions Flamengo, Palmeiras, and River Plate will also feature. In a twist, host nation USA’s slot went to Inter Miami CF, ensuring a starring role for Lionel Messi.
Messi Takes Center Stage
FIFA raised eyebrows by awarding Inter Miami a place in the Club World Cup, despite not being Major League Soccer champions. The decision was likely influenced by the club’s signing of global superstar Lionel Messi.
According to a close source, having Messi front and center was a top priority for FIFA. The Argentine’s presence is set to boost the tournament’s profile and commercial appeal.
Inter Miami is guaranteed to play the tournament opener in their home stadium, fueling speculation that Messi could kick off the event to maximize the hype.
Concerns Over Workload and Burnout
The Club World Cup’s timing, amid an already congested calendar, has raised concerns about player welfare and burnout. Many stars face a gruelling schedule of club commitments followed immediately by international duties and then the Club World Cup, with barely a month’s rest before the new European seasons begin.
Top players need to be protected from excessive workload shortening their careers. There will be a price to pay if football’s schedule keeps intensifying.
– Maheta Molango, PFA Chief Executive
Player unions FIFPRO and the PFA have launched legal action against FIFA over player workload concerns. Some players like Manchester City’s Rodri even suggested strike action is possible.
Future of the Tournament
FIFA intends to stage the Club World Cup every four years in the host country of the upcoming World Cup. So after 2025 in the USA, the next edition will likely be in 2029 in Canada, Mexico, or the USA, hosts of the 2026 World Cup.
While an annual Club World Cup will continue in a smaller form, FIFA is banking on the quadrennial summer tournament to become a centerpiece of the football calendar, enhancing club prestige and revenues. How it navigates player welfare concerns and sporting integrity issues could determine its long-term success and ability to excite fans globally.
