The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is set to kick off on June 14 in the United States, marking the first time the expanded 32-team tournament will be held in the country. The month-long competition will feature 63 matches across 11 host cities, culminating in the final on July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Opening Clash: Inter Miami vs Al Ahly
The opening match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will feature MLS side Inter Miami, led by global star Lionel Messi, taking on African powerhouse Al Ahly from Egypt. The game is expected to draw massive attention both locally and internationally.
Host Cities and Venues
Matches will be played in:
- Atlanta
- Charlotte
- Cincinnati
- Los Angeles (Pasadena)
- Miami
- Nashville
- New York/New Jersey (East Rutherford)
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Seattle
- Washington, D.C.
Tournament Format
The 32 participating clubs are split into eight groups (A–H) of four teams each. After a round-robin group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. All knockout matches will include extra time and penalties if needed.
Defending Champions
Manchester City return as the reigning Club World Cup champions, having claimed the title in December 2023.
Group Stage Highlights & Fixtures
- Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
- Group B: PSG, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
- Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
- Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, LAFC
- Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
- Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns
- Group G: Manchester City, Wydad AC, Al Ain, Juventus
- Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, FC Salzburg
Key Fixtures
- June 14: Inter Miami vs Al Ahly (Miami)
- June 15: Bayern Munich vs Auckland City (Cincinnati), PSG vs Atletico Madrid (Pasadena), Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders (Seattle)
- June 18: Real Madrid vs Al Hilal (Miami) – A marquee clash expected to showcase Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe
- Other Highlights: Flamengo vs Chelsea, Inter Milan vs River Plate, Manchester City vs Juventus
The group stage will run from June 14 to June 26, with a rest day on June 27.
Knockout Phase Schedule
- Round of 16: June 28 – July 1 (Starting in Philadelphia)
- Quarterfinals: July 4–5 (Orlando, Philadelphia, Atlanta, East Rutherford)
- Semifinals: July 8–9 (MetLife Stadium, New Jersey)
- Final: July 13 at 3:00 PM EDT (19:00 GMT) at MetLife Stadium
The 2025 edition is set to be the largest Club World Cup in history, and with global heavyweights like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Flamengo in action, fans can expect a thrilling spectacle across American cities.
