Al Ain FC of the UAE, Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia, Ulsan HD of Korea and Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan will represent Asia, participating in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, competing with the strongest clubs in the world.
History of participation and development of Asian teams
The first edition of the FIFA Club World Cup took place in 2000 in Brazil. Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr is the first representative of Asia to participate in this playground.
In that tournament, Al Nassr was in the same group as Corinthians (Brazil), Real Madrid ( Spain) and Raja Casablanca (Morocco). The Asian representative lost to Real and Corinthians but had a memorable 4-3 victory over Raja Casablanca.
To date, the Asian teams have won 8 medals at the FIFA Club World Cup, including 3 silver medals and 5 bronze medals. The first medal went to Urawa Red Diamonds in 2007, when they defeated Etoile du Sahel of Cambodia in the third-place match.
With the accumulated experience and development of Asian football over many years, the Asian representatives have affirmed themselves as the teams that regularly enter the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals, with Gamba Osaka (2008), Pohang Steelers (2009), Al Sadd 2011 and Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2015 all winning bronze medals.
In 2016, Kashima Antlers made history as the first Asian team to reach the final of this playground. In that final, Kashima led Real Madrid 2-1, but then lost 2-4. Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to help Real successfully reverse the situation in extra time.
The remaining two silver medals went to Al Ain (UAE) in 2018, when they lost 1-4 to Real Madrid. In 2022, Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal lost 3-5 to Real Madrid in the final.
Ambition in 2025
Participating in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Asian teams have clearly shown their ambition. Most obviously, Al Hilal, a powerful and wealthy club in Saudi Arabia. They have just successfully convinced coach Simone Inzaghi to sit in the hot seat. The strategist who has reached the UEFA Champions League final twice with Inter Milan is expected to help Al Hilal's star players fly high.
According to the draw results, Al Hilal will be in Group H with Real Madrid (France), Pachuca (Mexico) and Red Bull Salzburg (authrich).
Meanwhile, Urawa Red Diamonds are confident that they will make a splash in this year's tournament, as 5,000 fans of the team are expected to go to the US to cheer. The Japanese club regularly participates in the FIFA Club World Cup. This year, they are in Group E with River Plate (Argentina), Monterrey (Mexico) and Inter Milan (Italy).
In Group F, Ulsan HD will compete with Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Fluminense (Brazil) and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa). Meanwhile, Al Ain will compete in Group G with Man City (UK), Wydad AC (Maroc) and Juventus.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will take place from June 14 to July 13 in the US.
