 "FIFA Club World Cup 2025: New rules, teams, groups, venues; all you need to know")
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is slated to kick off in a few days’ time. There are many new changes that are going to be implemented in the upcoming edition. For the first time ever, 32 football clubs from across the world will compete in this tournament. It will be held in the United States from 15 June to 14 July 2025.
What is new about the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?
Earlier, the Club World Cup had only seven teams and was held every year. But from now on, it will take place once every four years like the FIFA World Cup, and will feature 32 teams from six football confederations – UEFA, CONMEBOL, CAF, AFC, Concacaf, and OFC.
The prize money has also been increased a lot. The winner will now get $40 million, compared to just $5 million before.
Where are the venues for 2025 Club World Cup?
The tournament will take place in 12 stadiums across the USA. The venues are as follows:
Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Charlotte, TQL Stadium
Cincinnati, Bank of America Stadium
Los Angeles, Rose Bowl Stadium
Miami, Hard Rock Stadium
Nashville, GEODIS Park
New Jersey, MetLife Stadium
Orlando, Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Inter&Co Stadium
Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field
Seattle, Lumen Field
Washington DC, Audi Field
Which teams have qualified?
CAF (Africa)
Al Ahly FC (Egypt) – 2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24 CAF Champions League winners
Wydad AC (Morocco) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League winner
Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) – CAF ranking pathway
Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) – CAF ranking pathway
AFC (Asia)
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – 2021 AFC Champions League winner
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) – 2022 AFC Champions League winner
Al Ain FC (UAE) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League winner
Ulsan HD (South Korea) – AFC ranking pathway
UEFA (Europe)
Chelsea FC (England) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League winner
Real Madrid CF (Spain) – 2021/22, 2023/24 UEFA Champions League winner
Manchester City FC (England) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League winner
FC Bayern München (Germany) – UEFA ranking pathway
Paris Saint-Germain (France) – UEFA ranking pathway
FC Internazionale Milano (Italy) – UEFA ranking pathway
FC Porto (Portugal) – UEFA ranking pathway
SL Benfica (Portugal) – UEFA ranking pathway
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – UEFA ranking pathway
Juventus FC (Italy) – UEFA ranking pathway
Atlético de Madrid (Spain) – UEFA ranking pathway
FC Salzburg (Austria) – UEFA ranking pathway
Concacaf (North/Central America & Caribbean)
CF Monterrey (Mexico) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup winner
Seattle Sounders FC (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup winner
CF Pachuca (Mexico) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup winner
OFC (Oceania)
- Auckland City FC (New Zealand) – OFC ranking pathway
CONMEBOL (South America)
SE Palmeiras (Brazil) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores winner
CR Flamengo (Brazil) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores winner
Fluminense FC (Brazil) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores winner
Botafogo (Brazil) – 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores winner
CA River Plate (Argentina) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
CA Boca Juniors (Argentina) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Host nation (USA)
Inter Miami CF (USA) – Host nation slot
LAFC (USA) – FIFA Club World Cup Play-In
How are the groups divided?
Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain , Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
Group D: Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunisie, Chelsea , Los Angeles FC
Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg
New rules and technology
Referee body cam: Referees will wear tiny cameras to show fans live action from their point of view. It will be implemented at only six NFL stadiums.
AI offside checks: Artificial Intelligence (AI) will help decide offside to make them faster using 16 cameras. The AI part of this is new.
Goalkeeper timeout rule: If a keeper holds the ball too long (more than 8 seconds), the other team will get a corner kick instead of an indirect free kick.
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