Starting today, June 14, 2025, the FIFA Super Club World Cup begins in the United States, bringing together 32 teams from six continental confederations in an unprecedented expanded format. Held across 11 American cities, the tournament, running until July 13, promises historic clashes, such as Palmeiras against Porto and Botafogo facing Seattle Sounders. Organized by FIFA, the event marks the debut of a quadrennial model, featuring eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the round of 16. The final is scheduled at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and the tournament includes four Brazilian representatives: Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo. The competition, replacing the previous Club World Cup format, aims to expand the global battle among the planet’s top clubs.
The event, already stirring excitement among fans worldwide, will be broadcast for free on DAZN and feature innovative technologies, such as body cameras for referees, led by former referee Pierluigi Collina. Additionally, the trophy, unveiled by Gianni Infantino and Ronaldo Fenômeno, is a 24-karat gold piece, symbolizing the tournament’s grandeur.
- Key opening matches: Palmeiras x Porto, Botafogo x Seattle Sounders, Flamengo x Espérance, and Fluminense x Borussia Dortmund.
- Highlighted venues: MetLife Stadium (final), Hard Rock Stadium (opening match with Inter Miami), and Lumen Field (Seattle Sounders’ games).
- Format: Eight groups, three matches per team in the initial phase, knockout rounds from the round of 16 with extra time and penalties if tied.
The draw, held in December 2024, set balanced groups to promote geographic diversity and competitiveness. The presence of clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain raises the technical level of the competition.
Groups and first matchups
The 2025 Super Club World Cup is structured into eight groups, each with four teams. The draw, conducted in Miami, ensured that teams from the same country would not face each other in the initial phase, except in cases involving European clubs, which have 12 representatives. Brazil, with four teams, is the country with the most participants, followed by Argentina, with River Plate and Boca Juniors.
Group A, led by Palmeiras, opens the competition with a duel against Porto at MetLife Stadium at 7 p.m. (Brasília time). Al Ahly from Egypt and Inter Miami, featuring Lionel Messi, complete the group, promising an anticipated clash in the third round. Botafogo, in Group B, debuts against Seattle Sounders but will face bigger challenges against Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético de Madrid in subsequent rounds.
In Group D, Flamengo takes on Espérance from Tunisia in a match that could be decisive for their aspirations in a group that also includes Chelsea and León from Mexico. Fluminense, the top seed in Group F, will face Borussia Dortmund in a matchup that will test the strength of the 2023 Libertadores champion.
How teams qualified
FIFA established strict criteria for selecting the 32 participating clubs. The slots were distributed among the six continental confederations based on performances from 2021 to 2024.
- UEFA (Europe): 12 slots, with Champions League winners (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich) and clubs selected by UEFA ranking, such as Inter Milan and Porto.
- CONMEBOL (South America): Six slots, with Libertadores champions (Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo) and two clubs by ranking (River Plate and Boca Juniors).
- AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF: Four slots each, reserved for continental champions, such as Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Al Ahly (Egypt), and Monterrey (Mexico).
- OFC (Oceania): One slot, occupied by Auckland City, the top-ranked team.
- Host country: Inter Miami, qualified as the U.S. representative after winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield.
To avoid repeating champions, FIFA used continental rankings, considering criteria like group stage participation, wins, and goal difference. This system ensured the inclusion of historic and emerging clubs, creating a diverse tournament.
Logistics and tournament venues
The competition will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 U.S. cities, with highlights including MetLife Stadium, hosting the final, and Hard Rock Stadium, the opening match venue. Other venues include the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and Lumen Field in Seattle, which will host six matches, including three by Seattle Sounders.
FIFA prioritized modern stadiums, many used in the NFL, ensuring top-tier infrastructure. Orlando is the only city with two stadiums: Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium. The choice of venues reflects the goal of attracting large crowds, especially in markets where soccer is growing, like the United States.
Innovations in refereeing
The 2025 edition introduces a novelty in refereeing: main referees will use body cameras, an initiative led by Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s Refereeing Committee chairman. The technology aims to increase decision transparency, recording interactions in real time.
Additionally, the tournament will maintain the use of VAR (video assistant referee), already established in FIFA competitions. The combination of body cameras and VAR promises to reduce controversies, especially in decisive matches. Each team can register up to 35 players, but only 26 can be listed per match, ensuring tactical flexibility.
Spotlight on Brazilian teams
The four Brazilian representatives arrive with distinct ambitions but all with competitive squads. Palmeiras, three-time Libertadores champion, relies on defensive solidity and Abel Ferreira’s experience to advance in Group A. Flamengo, with a powerful attack, faces a challenging group but has the support of its fanbase as a differential.
Fluminense, led by Fernando Diniz, aims to repeat its 2023 success but will need to overcome Borussia Dortmund in the opener. Botafogo, the current Libertadores champion, is the tournament’s surprise but will face two European giants in Group B.
The trophy and its symbolism
The Super Club World Cup trophy was unveiled during the draw in Miami and impresses with its design. Crafted in 24-karat gold by an American jeweler, it incorporates images of soccer history and the names of FIFA’s 211 member countries. Its circular shape reflects the solar system on the opening date, June 15.
Ronaldo Fenômeno, who participated in the presentation, highlighted the piece’s beauty, symbolizing the unity of continents around soccer. The trophy will be contested in a single final, with no third-place match, emphasizing the focus on the title decision.
Favorites according to projections
Projections based on statistical analyses, such as Opta’s supercomputer, point to Paris Saint-Germain as the favorite, with an 18.5% chance of winning, followed by Manchester City at 17.8%. Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid complete the top five. Among Brazilians, Palmeiras and Flamengo rank in the top 15, with over 50% chances of reaching the round of 16 but only a 0.3% probability of winning the trophy.
The numbers reflect the dominance of European clubs, which lead continental rankings, but the unpredictability of the knockout format could open room for upsets, especially for South American teams accustomed to high-pressure competitions.
Opening and expectations
The opening match at Hard Rock Stadium will pit Inter Miami, featuring Lionel Messi, against Al Ahly, in a duel that will draw global attention. Messi’s presence, one of soccer’s greatest players, heightens expectations for the tournament, which aims to establish club soccer as a global spectacle.
FIFA expects the event to attract millions of spectators, both in stadiums and through DAZN’s free broadcast. The competition will also serve as a test for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, using some of the same venues.
Organization and prizes
FIFA has not yet disclosed the prize money values, but expectations are high given the tournament’s scale. Each club is guaranteed three group-stage matches, with the potential to play up to seven games if they reach the final. The regulations prohibit clubs owned by the same entity from participating, ensuring diversity in the competition.
The tournament’s logistics were planned to minimize travel, with some teams, like Seattle Sounders, playing all group-stage matches in the same stadium. FIFA also reinforced the requirement for clubs to field their best squads, ensuring the highest competitive level.
