© Imago
63 fixtures, 32 teams, 11 cities, one champion – they're the main numbers for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. FC Bayern are part of the high-quality field and are eagerly looking forward to the tournament. fcbayern.com has the answers to any questions you may have ahead of the new global club tournament.
The format
In previous years, the club world champions have been determined in a mini tournament of seven teams at the end of each year. Bayern won the title in both 2013 and 2020 as defending Champions League winners. From 2025, the tournament will be held in the summer and will take place every four years. A total of 32 teams from the international confederations AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA will take part in the USA from 15 June to 13 July 2025.
The groups
The teams have been drawn into eight groups of four, in which they'll play each other once. The top two from each group go through to the round of 16. The knockout rounds will be played as single matches all the way to the final. There'll be no third-place playoff.
The path to the final
© FC Bayern
The participants
If a club wins its confederation's Champions League title more than once in the relevant period, another team from the four-year table qualifies. In addition, a maximum of two clubs per country may participate in the Club World Cup, unless more than two win the Champions League.
Europe – UEFA (12 clubs): The last four winners of the Champions League, plus the eight best teams in the UEFA ranking over the last four years.
Chelsea (Champions League winners 2021), Real Madrid (Champions League winners 2022), Manchester City (Champions League winners 2023), FC Bayern (via ranking), Borussia Dortmund (via ranking), Paris Saint-Germain (via ranking), Inter Milan (via ranking), FC Porto (via ranking), Benfica (via ranking), Juventus (via ranking), Atlético Madrid (via ranking), RB Salzburg (via ranking).
South America – CONMEBOL (6 clubs): The last four winners of the Copa Libertadores, plus the two best teams of the last two years.
Palmeiras (Copa Libertadores winners 2021), Flamengo (Copa Libertadores winners 2022), Fluminense (Copa Libertadores winners 2023), Botafogo (Copa Libertadores winners 2024), River Plate (via ranking), Boca Juniors via ranking).
In addition to FC Bayern, Real Madrid will also be taking part.
North and Central America, Caribbean – CONCACAF (4 clubs): The last four winners of the CONCACAF Champions League.
CF Monterrey (CONCACAF Champions League winners 2021), Seattle Sounders (CONCACAF Champions League winners 2022), CF Pachuca (CONCACAF Champions League winners 2024), Los Angeles FC (replace Club Léon after winning the decider against Club América).
Africa – CAF (4 clubs): The last three winners of the CAF Champions League and one further team from the ranking list.
Al-Ahly (CAF Champions League winners 2021 and 2023), Wydad AC Casablanca (CAF Champions League winners 2022), ES Tunis (via ranking), Mamelodi Sundowns (via ranking).
Asia – AFC (4 clubs): The last three winners of the AFC Champions League and one further team from the ranking list.
Al-Hilal (AFC Champions League winners 2021), Urawa Red Diamonds (AFC Champions League winners 2022), Al-Ain (AFC Champions League winners 2023/24), Ulsan HD (via ranking).
Oceania – OFC (one clubs): The best team in the OFC Champions League over the last four years: Auckland City (via ranking).
Plus one club from the host country: Inter Miami (Supporters' Shield winners 2024).
Inter Miami, with superstar Lionel Messi, are also in the FIFA Club World Cup | © Getty Images
The venues
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, the USA was awarded the contract to host the 2025 Club World Cup. The opening match will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with the final at the MetLife Stadium in New York. The 11 host cities are New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington D.C. and Orlando, which is represented by two stadiums.
What's happened with the previous Club World Cup?
Instead of being simply replaced, this will exist in reduced form under the new name of Intercontinental Cup. The 2024 edition was won by the 2024 European Champions League winners - Real Madrid - at the end of December in Qatar after a 3-0 victory in the final against CF Pachuca. The FIFA Intercontinental Cup is to be awarded in the years between the Club World Cup.
We take a look at our opponents in the FIFA Club World Cup group stage in more detail:
FC Bayern last won the Club World Cup in the 2020/21 season - thanks to a 1-0 win in the final against UANL Tigres. | © FC Bayern
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