The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will have 32 representatives from major federations around the world: 12 clubs from UEFA ( Europe), 6 clubs from CONMEBOL (South America), 5 clubs from Concacaf (North America), 4 clubs from AFC (Asia), 4 clubs from CAF ( Africa) and 1 club from OFC (Pacific).
Brazil has the most participating clubs (4 teams: Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Palmeiras). Meanwhile, the US is the only country in the remaining group with more than 2 teams (3 clubs: Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders).
32 teams have been divided into 8 pounds, each with 4 teams. Each team will fight with the remaining 3 teams in the table according to the format 1 turn. The top two teams (according to the total score) will enter the live qualifying round, no play-off or the secondary index for the teams below. If the group stage is at the end of the group stage, the confrontation index will be taken into account, not the goal difference.
The knockout round includes the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. All of these matches only took place once. In this tournament, FIFA still applies extra time, not playing penalty if the two teams are tied after 90 minutes.
The current system of 32 teams with the same organization is similar to the FIFA World Cup model from 1998 to 2022. However, unlike at the World Cup, there will be no third-place match for the semi-final losers at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Round time (Eastern time)
Group stage: June 14 to 26 Team 16 round: June 28 to July 1 Quarter-final: July 4 and 5 Semi-final: July 8 and 9 Final: July 13
In the round of 16 teams, the first teams in the group stage will confront the second team in another table after the results from the draw. The order will be first Group A meeting in the second Group B, first Group B meets the second Group A, similar to the C and D, Group E and F and Group G and H.
In the group stage, teams from all federations outside UEFA are separated and will therefore not meet each other. 4 out of 8 groups will have 2 UEFA teams. Therefore, the domestic matches in Europe such as Paris Saint-Germain - Atletico Madrid, Benfica - Bayern Munich, Juventus - Manchester City and RB Salzburg - Real Madrid are the only matches of the same federation in the first round.
After the round of 16 begins, the teams can compete with opponents from any federation, including their own federations. Teams from the same country will not meet in the group stage but may face each other from the round of 16.
Teams are allowed to have a maximum of 35 players in their squads when starting the tournament (minimum 26 players). At least 3 members of the team must be goalkeepers. Because FIFA has just opened a special transfer window before the tournament, teams can register to add up to 2 players to the list to send to the organizing committee.
The one-year standard for contracts with players in Europe will start from July 1 of the previous year to June 30 of the following year. The newly opened FIFA transfer window takes place from June 27 to July 3, 2025, so there will be cases where teams are allowed to register 37 players if no one in the previously registered squad has reached the expiration date.
Each team will have a maximum of 26 players on the list of registered players for a match (11 starting players and 15 substitutes). Teams will be given a maximum of 5 players per match, with an additional 6th chance if any player has a serious head injury. If the matches have to go into extra time, the teams will be allowed to replace the 6th player, regardless of how many changes they have made during the official competition period.
If a player (or coaching staff member) receives a yellow card in 2 separate matches (up to the quarter-finals), they will not be allowed to participate in the next match. In the semi-finals, the organizing committee will delete the card. This means that one can only miss the final if they receive a red card in the semi-finals.
The new FIFA Club World Cup will be held every 4 years. The host country for 2029 has not been determined.
All matches at the FIFA Club World Cup will be broadcast live on FPT Play.
