2025 Club World Cup debuts new format across 12 stadiums and 32 teams in the US

Fifa announced the 2025 Club World Cup, a tournament featuring 32 teams that will debut a new format, to be held in the United States from June 14 to July 13. The event, hosted in 11 cities and 12 stadiums, will include four Brazilian clubs – Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo – and Inter Miami, representing the host country. The tournament, replacing the annual seven-team model, will occur every four years, with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The organization released the group stage draw, full schedule, and specific rules, such as a special transfer window. The event aims to enhance global club football competitiveness, with free streaming on the DAZN platform.

The 2025 Club World Cup marks a significant overhaul in the competition’s history, which began in 2000 and replaced the Intercontinental Cup in 2005. The inaugural edition of the new format will feature continental champions from the past four years, plus clubs qualified via confederation rankings. The participation of teams from six confederations underscores the event’s geographic diversity.

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Among the highlights are the opening matches for the Brazilian teams: Palmeiras faces Porto, Botafogo takes on Seattle Sounders, Flamengo plays Espérance, and Fluminense meets Borussia Dortmund. The tournament will follow the World Cup format (1998-2022), with eight groups of four teams, where the top two advance to the knockout stages.

• Key dates: Opening on June 14, with Inter Miami vs. Al-Ahly, and final on July 13.
• Broadcasting: DAZN will stream all 63 matches for free, with Globo and SporTV covering at least 25 and 40 games, respectively.
• Prize money: Fifa will distribute approximately $1 billion among clubs, with fixed amounts and performance bonuses.

The world's biggest clubs are coming to the USA. 🛬🇺🇸#FIFACWC

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) May 26, 2025

New format expands competition

The 2025 Club World Cup adopts an expanded format, increasing from seven to 32 teams, a change announced by Fifa in 2019 and confirmed in 2022. Originally planned for 2021 in China, the tournament was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted the global football calendar. The decision to host in the USA was made in 2023, as preparation for the 2026 World Cup, also in the country.

The competition now occurs every four years, with qualification criteria set by continental confederations. Europe will have 12 slots, South America six, while Africa, Asia, and North and Central America will have four each, plus one for Oceania and one for the host.

Fifa introduced rules to ensure competitive balance, such as banning clubs with the same owner, which led to the disqualification of León from Mexico after a legal dispute with Alajuelense from Costa Rica. The draw, held on December 5, 2024, divided teams into eight groups, prioritizing geographic diversity.

Confirmed venues and stadiums

Fifa selected 11 U.S. cities to host the matches, with 12 high-capacity stadiums. The final will be at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which holds 82,000 spectators. The opening match, between Inter Miami and Al-Ahly, will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.

• Host cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
• Notable stadiums: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Rose Bowl (Los Angeles), and Camping World Stadium (Orlando).
• Fun fact: Orlando is the only city with two stadiums, Camping World and Inter&Co Stadium.

The selection of venues prioritized the East Coast to facilitate broadcasts to Europe, avoiding conflicts with the Concacaf Gold Cup, held simultaneously on the West Coast.

Brazilian clubs in the spotlight

Brazil is the only country with four representatives, all qualified through Copa Libertadores titles from 2021 to 2024. Palmeiras (2021), Flamengo (2022), Fluminense (2023), and Botafogo (2024) secured their spots, reinforcing South American football’s strength.

Palmeiras debuts against Porto on June 15 at 7 p.m. at MetLife Stadium. Botafogo faces Seattle Sounders on the same day at 11 p.m. at Lumen Field in Seattle. Flamengo plays on June 16 at 10 p.m. against Espérance in Philadelphia, while Fluminense takes on Borussia Dortmund on June 17 at 1 p.m. in New Jersey.

Each Brazilian club is in a different group, increasing the chances of at least one advancing to the round of 16. Fifa announced that teams can register up to 26 players, with final rosters submitted by June 10.

Special transfer window

Fifa announced a dedicated transfer window for the 32 participating clubs from June 1 to 10, with an additional phase from June 27 to July 3. This measure allows teams to adjust squads, especially for players whose contracts end on June 30.

Twenty football associations, including Brazil’s CBF, are involved in organizing this window, covering countries like Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Japan, and Egypt. The initiative ensures clubs arrive at the tournament with complete and competitive rosters.

• Main period: June 1 to 10 for new player registrations.
• Additional phase: June 27 to July 3 for up to two new registrations.
• Final deadline: June 10 for submitting definitive rosters.

Free global streaming

The DAZN streaming platform secured global rights for the 2025 Club World Cup and will broadcast all 63 matches for free. In Brazil, Globo will air at least 25 games on free-to-air TV, while SporTV will cover at least 40. Cazé TV, via YouTube, will stream 39 matches.

Fifa invested in partnerships to maximize viewership, including deals with Migu in China and other regional broadcasters. The choice of DAZN reflects a strategy to reach a global audience with a focus on accessibility.

Official trophy and emblem

On November 14, 2024, Fifa unveiled the Club World Cup trophy, designed in partnership with Tiffany & Co. Plated in 24-karat gold, the trophy features a world map and inscriptions in multiple languages, symbolizing global football unity.

The official emblem, launched on September 4, 2024, incorporates elements of the ball and football culture, with the tournament’s initials in a circular icon. The official anthem, based on Gala’s “Freed from Desire,” was chosen for the ceremonies.

• Trophy details: Includes the opening match date (June 15) and location (USA).
• Emblem: Inspired by football’s history and universality.
• Anthem: Adapted version of a 1990s pop song.

Preparations and officiating

Fifa confirmed on April 14, 2025, the selection of 117 referees from 41 associations, including 35 main referees, 58 assistants, and 24 video assistant referees. The full list will be published weeks before the tournament, with specific training for VAR usage.

Stadiums will undergo adaptations to meet Fifa standards, such as uniform pitches and dedicated areas for media and fans. The organization also plans cultural events, including concerts, with confirmed participation by singer Robbie Williams.

Groups and opening matches

The draw defined the eight groups, each with four teams from different confederations. Group A, for example, includes Inter Miami, Al-Ahly, Porto, and Palmeiras, while Group H features Botafogo, Seattle Sounders, Paris Saint-Germain, and Atlético de Madrid.

The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 16 in single-elimination matches until the final. Fifa established tiebreaker criteria, such as head-to-head results, goal difference, and goals scored, for the group stage.

• Group A: Inter Miami, Al-Ahly, Porto, Palmeiras.
• Group B: Manchester City, Boca Juniors, Al-Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds.
• Group C: Real Madrid, River Plate, Wydad, Monterrey.

Inter Miami’s participation

Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, secured a spot as the host country’s representative after winning the 2024 MLS regular season. The club opens the tournament against Al-Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14. Messi’s presence draws significant attention, with tickets for the opening match already in high demand.

The U.S. team faces a competitive group with Porto and Palmeiras but benefits from local support and the experience of players like Luis Suárez. Fifa highlighted the importance of including the host to engage the U.S. audience.

Investments and prize money

Fifa projects $2.5 billion in revenue from the tournament, driven by broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales. The total prize pool, estimated at $1 billion, will be divided into three pillars:

• Sporting performance: $475 million, with bonuses for wins and draws.
• Participation: $525 million, guaranteed to all clubs, varying by ranking.
• Solidarity: $250 million to support global football development.

Exact amounts per club are yet to be detailed, but Europe will receive the largest shares, with sums between $12.81 million and $38.19 million per team.