Expanded 32-Team FIFA Club World Cup Kicks Off in the USA | News

Get the latest news on the groundbreaking 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. Discover the new 32-team format, full schedule, and see which global giants are competing for the title.

The highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is now underway in the United States, marking a new era for the tournament with its expanded 32-team format. The competition, which runs from June 14 to July 13, brings together some of the world's biggest football clubs for a month-long festival of the sport.

 

This revamped tournament sees a significant increase from the previous seven-team format, promising a more competitive and global spectacle. The 32 participating clubs have been drawn into eight groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stages.

 

A Look at the Contenders

 

European powerhouses are well-represented, with a strong contingent of 12 teams, including recent UEFA Champions League winners Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Chelsea. They are joined by other giants like Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus.

 

South America sends a formidable group of six clubs, featuring the likes of Brazilian rivals Flamengo and Palmeiras. The tournament also includes four representatives each from Asia, Africa, and North America, and one from Oceania, ensuring a truly global representation. Host nation, the United States, has two representatives in the Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami CF, the latter controversially included.

The opening match on June 14 will see Egyptian giants Al Ahly take on the MLS side, Inter Miami, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

 

Tournament Format and Key Dates

 

The group stage will run for the first two weeks of the tournament, with the knockout rounds commencing with the Round of 16. The final is scheduled to be played on Sunday, July 13, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

 

Group Stage:** June 14 - June 27

Round of 16:** June 28 - July 1

Quarter-finals:** July 4 - July 6

Semi-finals:** July 8 - July 9

Final: July 13

 

A Prelude to the 2026 World Cup

 

The Club World Cup is being held across several cities in the United States, serving as a significant test event ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the USA will co-host with Canada and Mexico. The tournament is expected to draw large crowds and global attention, though some concerns have been raised regarding visa accessibility for international fans.

 

The expanded format and the inclusion of more teams from across the confederations aim to elevate the prestige of the Club World Cup, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailing it as a "true World Cup of clubs." Football fans worldwide will be keenly watching to see which club will be crowned the best in the world in this new, expanded era of the competition.

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