The biggest names in world football are heading to the United States this summer as the new-look FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on 15 June 2025. For the first time ever, 32 teams from across the globe will compete in a month-long showdown, ending with the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 13 July.
European giants Manchester City, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich will all be chasing more silverware, while South American powerhouses like Flamengo, River Plate, and Boca Juniors are out to remind the world of their pedigree.
But there’s more than just the usual suspects. MLS outfit Inter Miami, led by global icon Lionel Messi, will represent the host nation and kick off the tournament against Al Ahly of Egypt in Miami.
What’s New This Year?
This edition marks the first time the tournament features a World Cup-style format, split into eight groups of four teams. The top two from each group will move into a knockout round of 16, followed by quarters, semis and a final.
It’s a packed calendar—nearly one game every day for a month—with matches spread across American cities including Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, Orlando, and Pasadena.
The Group Stage: Ones to Watch
Group A sees Messi’s Inter Miami take on Al Ahly, Palmeiras and Porto.
Group B is full of flair with PSG, Atletico Madrid, and Botafogo set for fiery clashes.
Group G puts defending champions Manchester City in with Juventus, Al Ain, and Wydad.
Group H is headlined by Real Madrid, who will face Al Hilal, Pachuca, and Salzburg.
Other clubs to look out for include Fluminense, who were runners-up last time, and Inter Milan, fresh off another impressive season in Europe.
Opening Weekend Fixtures
GROUP STAGE
- Saturday, June 14
- Group A:Â Al Ahly Egypt vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. ET (1 a.m. BST) (Miami)
- Sunday, June 15
- Group C:Â Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, 12 pm ET (5 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati)
- Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid, 3 pm ET (8 p.m. BST) (Pasadena)
- Group A:Â Palmeiras vs. Porto, 6 pm ET (11 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford)
- Group B:Â Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders, 10 p.m. ET (3 a.m. BST) (Seattle)
- Monday, June 16
- Group C: Chelsea vs. León, 3 pm ET (8 p.m. BST) (Atlanta)
- Group D:Â Boca Juniors vs. Benfica, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Miami)
- Group C: Flamengo vs. Espérance de Tunis, 9 p.m. ET (2 a.m. BST) (Philadelphia)
- Tuesday, June 17
- Group F:Â Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (5 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford)
- Group EÂ River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) (Seattle)
- Group F:Â Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Orlando)
- Group E:Â Monterrey vs. Inter Milan, 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) (Pasadena)
- Wednesday, June 18
- Group G:Â Manchester City vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (5 p.m. BST) (Philadelphia)
- Group H:Â Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal, 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) (Miami)
- Group H:Â Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati)
- Group G:Â Al Ain vs. Juventus, 9 p.m. (2 a.m. BST) (Washington)
- Thursday, June 19
- Group A:Â Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford)
- Group A:Â Inter Miami vs. Porto, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Atlanta)
- Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Atlético Madrid, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Seattle)
- Group B:Â Paris Saint-Germain vs. Botafogo, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m . BST)(Pasadena)
- Friday, June 20
- Group C:Â Benfica vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (Orlando)
- Group D:Â Flamengo vs. Chelsea, 2 p.m. ET, (7 p.m. BST) (Philadelphia)
- Group D: León vs. Espérance de Tunis, 6 p.m. ET, (11 p.m. BST) (Nashville)
- Group C:Â Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors , 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Miami)
- Saturday, June 21
- Group F:Â Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati)
- Group E:Â Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Seattle)
- Group F:Â Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD, 6 p.m. ET, (11 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford)
- Group E:Â River Plate vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Pasadena)
- Sunday, June 22
- Group G:Â Juventus vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (Philadelphia)
- Group H:Â Real Madrid vs. Pachuca, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Charlotte)
- Group H:Â FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal, 6 p.m. ET, (11 p.m. BST) (Washington)
- Group G:Â Manchester City vs. Al Ain, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Atlanta)
- Monday, June 23
- Group B: Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Pasadena)
- Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Seattle)
- Group A:Â Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Miami Gardens)
- Group A:Â Porto vs. Al Ahly, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (East Rutherford)
- Tuesday, June 24
- Group C:Â Benfica vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Charlotte)
- Group C:Â Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Nashville)
- Group D: Espérance de Tunis vs. Chelsea, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Philadelphia)
- Group D: León vs. Flamengo, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Orlando)
- Wednesday, June 25
- Group F:Â Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati)
- Group F:Â Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Miami)
- Group E:Â Inter Milan vs. River Plate, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Seattle)
- Group E:Â Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Pasadena)
- Thursday, June 26
- Group G:Â Wydad AC vs. Al Ain, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Washington)
- Group G:Â Juventus vs. Manchester City, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Orlando)
- Group H:Â Al Hilal vs. Mexico Pachuca, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Nashville)
- Group H:Â FC Salzburg vs. Real Madrid, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Philadelphia)
These opening matches set the tone for what’s expected to be a high-tempo, drama-filled competition from start to finish.
Where Will It Happen?
Matches will be staged across eight US cities, with the opening match and final both held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Other key venues include:
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Lumen Field, Seattle
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Rose Bowl, Pasadena
- Camping World Stadium, Orlando
- Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Who Qualified and How?
Clubs earned their spots through continental championships, rankings or historical performances. Here’s a snapshot:
- Europe: Real Madrid, Man City, Chelsea, Bayern, Inter Milan, PSG, Juventus, Atletico Madrid
- South America: Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, River Plate, Boca Juniors
- Africa: Al Ahly, Wydad, ES Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns
- Asia: Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Ulsan HD
- North America: Monterrey, Club Leon, Seattle Sounders, Pachuca
- Oceania: Auckland City
- Host Slot: Inter Miami
Who’s Favoured to Win?
Bookmakers have made Manchester City (4/1) and Real Madrid (9/2) early favourites. Bayern Munich (7/1) and Chelsea (8/1) follow closely, while Inter Milan (11/1) and PSG (12/1) are strong contenders.
Longer shots include Borussia Dortmund, Botafogo, and Juventus, but in a tournament of this scale, surprises are guaranteed.
Key Dates to Note
- Group Stage: 15–26 June
- Round of 16: 28 June–1 July
- Quarter-finals: 4–5 July
- Semi-finals: 8–9 July
- Final: 13 July (MetLife Stadium, New Jersey)
Final Thoughts
With global icons, fresh matchups and continental bragging rights at stake, the 2025 Club World Cup is set to be a spectacular festival of football. The US hosts at the perfect time—football’s popularity is soaring, and this tournament might just take it to the next level.
From Messi’s Inter Miami to Guardiola’s machine, and with South American flair and African pride, the world will be watching.
Who will be crowned the best club on the planet?
