Defending champions Manchester City will take on Juventus in the group stage of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup next summer, while Chelsea face Brazilian side Flamengo in a challenging Group D matchup.
Pep Guardiola’s City, who defeated Fluminense to claim their first title in 2023, will begin their title defense against Morocco’s Wydad and also play Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates in Group G. Chelsea, winners of the 2021 final, were drawn alongside Mexico’s Club León and Tunisian side Espérance Sportive de Tunis in Group D.
The revamped FIFA Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams for the first time, will be hosted by the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
Full FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group Stage Draw
- Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
- Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
- Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
- Group D: Flamengo, Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Chelsea, Club León
- Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
- Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan Hyundai, Mamelodi Sundowns
- Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
- Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Red Bull Salzburg
The tournament opener will see Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami face Egyptian giants Al Ahly at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Inter Miami, controversially included as the host nation’s representative, were awarded a spot despite not winning the MLS Cup this season.
- Paris Saint-Germain will clash with Atlético Madrid in Group B, while Bayern Munich takes on Benfica in Group C in an all-European battle.
- Real Madrid, record five-time Club World Cup winners, will open their campaign against Al Hilal, whose squad features Neymar.
The group stage will see teams play each other once, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage. Matches will be played at 12 venues across the United States, which will also host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
The tournament, now held every four years instead of annually, involves clubs from all six international football confederations. Europe, with 12 representatives, has the largest quota, including recent Champions League winners Chelsea, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.
FIFA’s decision to award Inter Miami a spot and the event’s scheduling have sparked controversy. The tournament begins just two weeks after the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League final and ends five weeks before the 2025-26 Premier League season starts. Player unions and leagues have raised concerns, but FIFA maintains that the timing allows sufficient rest before domestic campaigns.
Streaming platform DAZN has acquired exclusive rights to broadcast the tournament, which will feature 63 matches over 29 days.
The FIFA Club World Cup promises exciting matchups as clubs from around the world vie for the prestigious title in the United States next summer.
