FIFA Club World Cup 2025: How Teams Qualify and What to Expect from the New Group Format

The New Face of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Get ready for the biggest shake-up in world club football. The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 isn’t just growing in size—it’s transforming the way global club champions compete. For the first time, 32 teams from every footballing corner of the planet will fight it out in the United States, promising more drama, rivalries, and surprises than ever before.

This expanded format means fans finally get a tournament that mirrors the intensity—and scale—of the men’s World Cup for national teams. Gone are the days of a quick one-week competition with just a handful of sides. Now, champions and high-performing clubs from all six confederations lock horns in a month-long marathon.

How Teams Secured Their Ticket to the Big Show

Snagging a spot in the 2025 edition wasn’t just about lifting a continental trophy. Sure, teams who won major continental tournaments between 2021 and 2024 punched their ticket automatically. But for spots not filled by recent winners, FIFA looked to club rankings, weighing performances over those same four years.

• UEFA (Europe): Secured 12 spots, reflecting the dominance and depth of European football. Most places went to Champions League winners and a few top-ranked regulars.
• CONMEBOL (South America): Grabbed 6 slots, with Brazilian heavyweights scooping up four due to multiple Copa Libertadores titles and stellar rankings. Unusually, Brazil bypassed the two-club-per-country rule, as their trophy haul and consistent performances proved hard to ignore.
• AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), and CONCACAF (North/Central America): Each picked up four slots, balancing major tournament winners with consistent regional giants.
• OFC (Oceania): Landed a solitary spot, usually snapped up by New Zealand’s dominant club—but still, it’s a foot in the door for a new continent.
• Host (USA): As hosts, America got an automatic pass for one club, adding local flavor and home support into the mix.

The list of teams reads like a who’s-who of world football, from Real Madrid and Manchester City to Palmerias and Flamengo. Even Major League Soccer has multiple representatives, with Inter Miami and LAFC set to take the stage.

Breaking Down the 2025 Group Stage Format

Instead of a knockout sprint, this edition opens with group battles. The 32 clubs are split into eight groups of four. Each team plays all others in their group—three matches packed with tension and high stakes.

The top two sides from each group, sixteen total, advance to knockout rounds. Every point will matter, and even the big boys aren’t safe from upsets. Imagine a group with Manchester City, Juventus, Wydad AC, and Al Ain—all with their eyes set on lasting past the group phase.

• Noteworthy Groups:
• Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami—a spicy mix of South American flair, European tradition, African passion, and MLS hype.
• Group B: PSG, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders—expect fireworks whenever these continental powerhouses meet.
• Group D: Flamengo, Chelsea, Esperance, LAFC—fans on three continents will be glued to these matches.
• Group G: Manchester City, Juventus, Wydad AC, Al Ain—reigning champions face off against legends and regional talents.
• Group H: Real Madrid, Salzburg, Al Hilal, Pachuca—the kings of Europe meet challengers from Asia and the Americas.

No third-place playoff this time. After the group stage, winners face do-or-die matches: Round of 16, quarter-finals, semis, and the grand final. There’s no safety net—only one club stands tall at the end.

It’s a crowded field, but with so much at stake, even the biggest names—Manchester City, Real Madrid—can’t afford a slow start. Brazilian clubs like Palmeiras and Flamengo will look to prove their worth in a truly global cage match. The next Club World Cup is shaping up to be a spectacle that’s impossible to ignore.