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6 days until departure
Wed, 04/06/25, 09:00
2025 Club World Cup: 6 confederations battling for world title
FC Bayern head to the USA in six days to compete in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. fcbayern.com is counting down to departure and getting you in the mood for the big football event of the summer. Today we look at the six confederations battling it out for the title.
UEFA (Europe)
The world’s biggest and financially most powerful confederation has 12 clubs at the tournament in Bayern, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Bayern’s group opponent Benfica, Porto and Red Bull Salzburg. European clubs have dominated intercontinental competitions in recent years, while the UEFA Champions League is seen as the most prestigious club competition in the world. Football is by far the most popular sport in Europe, where club histories and fan relationships run deep. There are around 202,000 clubs playing in official league systems, with around 56 million men and six million women involved in football in Europe.
Bayern are joined by the likes of Real Madrid in representing Europe at the Club World Cup. The Spaniards have won the competition, including its predecessors, a record eight times. | © Getty
CONMEBOL (South America)
The world’s oldest continental confederation was formed in 1916 and boasts 10 World Cup titles from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Six South American clubs will be competing at this summer’s tournament in the USA in Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo (all Brazil), River Plate and Boca Juniors (both Argentina), who Bayern will meet in the group stage. Football plays a huge role in South America, where fans like to display their passion and some of the world game’s biggest names have emerged. Football is seen as an art form, with players often honing their skills on the continent’s sandy beaches. There are officially 25 million men and around three million women who play for around 47,000 clubs in South America.
CAF (Africa)
Africa has four representatives at the Club World Cup in Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad AC (Morocco), Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa). CAF is the second largest confederation in terms of membership numbers with some 41 million men and five million women playing at around 60,000 clubs across the continent. African clubs and national teams have increased their international standing in recent years. Football is continent’s most popular sport and also receives support from European clubs. In countries like Nigeria, some 67 percent of the population are said to regularly follow football, with England’s Premier League and the Bundesliga among the most popular leagues in the world to watch.
AFC (Asia)
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al Ain (UAE) and Ulsan HD (South Korea) are the four Asian teams looking to make their mark at the Club World Cup. The AFC is the largest confederation by population size and is said to account for some 32 percent of English Premier League viewers. An estimated 75 million men and 10 million women play organised football across 80,000 clubs in Asia.
Al Ahly of Africa were one of Bayern’s opponents at their last Club World Cup in 2021. | © Getty
CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean)
The host nation isn’t the only country providing clubs from the North, Central America and Caribbean confederation, with Monterrey and Pachuca of Mexico joining Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC (all USA) representing CONCACAF in the competition. Football in Mexico and the US has been on the up in recent years, with the popularity of the latter’s MLS rising substantially, thanks in part to its ability to attract some of football’s biggest names to close out their career. The US has been a forerunner in women’s football with four World Cup titles. Around 38 million men and some five million women play for 50,000 registered clubs across the CONCACAF region. Next summer’s World Cup will be played across Canada, Mexico and the USA.
OFC (Oceania)
Auckland City, who are Bayern’s opening group opponent, are the sole representative from the smallest continental confederation. There are only 2,000 football clubs, with around 450,000 men and 50,000 women, registered across the vast Pacific continent of Oceania, with football often trailing other sports like rugby in terms of popularity.
The global reach and significance of football is huge across every confederation, given the number of players and spectators on each continent. It means the Club World Cup won’t just be a reflection of the global game in a sporting sense but also of its mix of cultures.
How to watch
Tickets are still available for Bayern’s games in the US. The German record champions are looking forward to plenty of support from their fans. Head HERE for Club World Cup tickets.
All FIFA Club World Cup matches are being broadcast live and for free by streaming service DAZN, although broadcasters will differ in some countries.
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