FIFA has officially announced the group stage draw for the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States in the summer of 2025. The highly anticipated tournament will feature some of the world’s top football clubs, with matches scheduled across 12 stadiums in 11 cities. The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will also host the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, is set to stage the championship’s ultimate showdown.
Messi’s Inter Miami and Real Madrid Face Tough Groups
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami has been drawn into Group A, alongside Brazilian powerhouse Palmeiras, Portuguese club Porto, and Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Meanwhile, reigning European champions Real Madrid face a challenging test in Group H, where they will compete against Red Bull Salzburg, Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, and Mexico’s Pachuca.
Manchester City, another favorite to lift the trophy, finds itself in Group G alongside Juventus, Moroccan champions Wydad AC, and UAE club Al Ain.
The spotlight is on Group B, deemed the “Group of Death,” which includes Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Brazilian side Botafogo, and MLS’s Seattle Sounders.
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP Format and Schedule
The tournament begins on June 15, 2025, with Inter Miami taking on Al Ahly in Miami. The top two teams from each group will advance to a knockout stage, with single-elimination matches leading up to the final.
Full Group Stage Draw
• 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, Esperance de Tunis, Chelsea, Leon
• Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
• Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan Hyundai, Mamelodi Sundowns
• Group G: Manchester City, Wydad AC, Al Ain, Juventus
• Group H: Real Madrid, Pachuca, Al-Hilal, RB Salzburg
The expanded Club World Cup promises to deliver thrilling encounters, with global fans eagerly awaiting this grand celebration of football.
