FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Full Schedule, Teams, Venues, Prize Money, and How to Watch

The much-anticipated FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is set to kick off in the United States on June 14, marking the first edition of the tournament under a new 32-team format. Spanning over a month, the competition will see top clubs from across the globe clash for the prestigious title, with the final scheduled for July 13.

What’s New in 2025?

The tournament, previously held annually with six to eight clubs, has undergone a significant transformation. Now featuring 32 teams, the Club World Cup will be held once every four years, similar to the FIFA World Cup. The revamped format includes a group stage followed by knockout rounds, making it a true intercontinental football spectacle.

Format & Schedule

Group Stage: June 14 – 26

Round of 16: June 28 – July 1

Quarterfinals: July 4 – 5

Semifinals: July 8 – 9

Final: July 13

Teams are split into eight groups of four, with the top two from each progressing to the Round of 16.

Qualified Teams

Football fans in the U.S. will get a rare opportunity to watch global giants like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Inter Milan. The lineup includes 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, and four each from Asia, Africa, and CONCACAF. The host nation’s spot has been awarded to Inter Miami, led by football legend Lionel Messi.

The eight groups are as follows:

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 Reds, Monterrey, Inter Milan

Group F: Fluminense, Dortmund, Ulsan HD FC, Mamelodi Sundowns

Group G: Man City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, FC Salzburg

Notably, Chelsea qualified due to their 2021 UEFA Champions League win, while high-profile clubs like Barcelona and Liverpool missed out due to FIFA's two-club-per-country rule and four-year coefficient criteria.

Star Power: Messi In, Ronaldo Out

Lionel Messi will headline the tournament with Inter Miami, who qualified after breaking the MLS regular season points record. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr failed to qualify, with Ronaldo confirming he will not feature despite interest from other clubs.

Prize Pool: $1 Billion

The total prize money for the 2025 edition is a staggering $1 billion.

$500 million will be shared among all 32 clubs based on commercial and sporting criteria.

An additional $475 million is up for grabs based on performance.

The champions could earn up to $125 million, making it the most lucrative club competition to date.

Host Venues Across the U.S.

The 63 matches will be played across 12 stadiums in 11 cities. Major venues include:

Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) – Opening match

MetLife Stadium (New Jersey) – Semifinals and Final

Rose Bowl (Los Angeles) – Largest stadium at 88,500 capacity

Other host cities include Seattle, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.

How to Watch the Club World Cup 2025

Al Jazeera Sport will provide live photo and text commentary for marquee matches during the group stage and knockout rounds. Broadcasting and streaming rights for various regions will also be available through regional networks and FIFA’s official streaming platforms.