The 21st edition of FIFA’s Club World Cup is officially set with this afternoon’s “Club World Cup Draw.” With an expanded playing field now featuring 32 clubs that have been the best in their continent over the
Group A:
- SE Palmeiras (Brazil)
- FC Porto (Portugal)
- Al Ahly FC (Egypt)
- Inter Miami FC (United States)
Group A sees the “hosts” of the tournament, Inter Miami and star player Lionel Messi have tough competition from some of the strongest teams across the world. The most dominant team on the African continent Al Ahly FC up against steep competition. Having won the last two Egyptian Premier Leagues and three of the last four Confederation of Africa (CAF) Champions Leagues, the Cairo based club are in a tough group.
FC Porto has consistently been one of the strongest teams in Europe, and with the soccer-crazed continent holding twelve spots in the upcoming Club World Cup, it only made sense that the team that hasn’t finished below third in the Primera Liga and has made various campaigns into the knockout stages of the Champions League earned a spot in the Club World Cup.
SE Palmeiras is a juggernaut in Brazilian and CONMEBOL Football. The reigning champions of the Sao Paulo state league: The Paulista, and the Brasilero Serie A, the top league across the whole of Brazil, qualified for the tournament thanks to their 2021 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores win.
Group B:
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Atletico Madrid (Spain)
- Botafogo (Brazil)
- Seattle Sounders FC (United States)
Currently three points ahead of Group A’s Palmeiras for first place in Brazil’s Serie A Botafogo are the team that people in the United States are least likely to know of, but they are not to be underestimated. Having defeated Palmeiras en route to their 2024 Copa Libertadores victory, Botafogo completed a miraculous turnaround after being relegated to the Serie B prior to the 2021 campaign by defeating Atletico Mineiro 3-1 in the Libertadores Final.
Botafogo will face off against another Atletico, this time the Spanish powerhouse Atletico Madrid. Much like Group A’s Porto, Atletico Madrid are consistently in the battle for the LaLiga title and have battled into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League on multiple occasions. Having been ranked as one of the best teams in the world, Atletico Madrid find themselves fighting for their first Club World Cup trophy.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) likely won’t be the powerhouse that they have been in recent years due to the Ligue 1’s financial woes over the past few seasons. However, PSG could serve as a major threat in this Club World Cup tournament. Led by world-class goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG made it to UCL Semi-Final last season, before falling to eventual runners up, Borussia Dortmund.
Seattle Sounders FC are one of the best teams in the MLS. Having fallen in the Western Conference final in the MLS Cup, the Sounders attention turns to next season, where they’ll have to better their 2022 CONCACAF Champions League performance if they want to surpass three strong teams from the rest of the World.
Group C:
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Auckland City (New Zealand)
- Boca Juniors (Argentina)
- SL Benfica (Portugal)
This group is highlighted by one of the strongest sides in Europe: Bayern Munich. Domestic success was nothing new to Bayern having won 11 straight Bundesliga Titles. Bayern Munich finds themselves in this tournament thanks to that domestic success and their ability to compete with some of the strongest teams in Europe. While Bayern’s 2020 Champions League victory came one year shy of securing a spot in the Club World Cup, FCB has World Class talent throughout the pitch.
Boca Juniors are one of two teams to be selected for this tournament thanks to their CONMEBOL 4-Year Rankings. Located in Buenos Aires, Boca Juniors have never been relegated from Argentina’s Top Division. Having completed the a Treble in 2022, winning the Primera Division, Supercopa Argentina, and the Copa De la Liga, Boca kept their historical status as one of the best teams in Argentina and one of the best teams in South America.
Auckland City are one of the younger teams in the Club World Cup, only having been founded in 2004. However, the “Navy Blues” of New Zealand have been one of the best teams in Oceania. With the Oceania Football Conference having only one slot in the Club World Cup, Auckland City’s two New Zealand three consecutive OFC Champions League trophies made them a surefire pick for this brand new tournament.
Rounding out Group C is another of Portugal’s top teams, S.L. Benfica. With a Primera Liga trophy in 2022 and a number of deep runs in UEFA cup competitions, Benfica finds themselves in a position to make a run out of the group stage in this tournament.
Group D:
- Flamengo (Brazil)
- Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
- Chelsea FC (England)
- Club Leon (Mexico)
Flamengo are entering their third Club World Cup competition, having finished as runner ups in the 2019 Club World Cup competition and third in the 2022 Competition, Flamengo are one of the most experienced teams in this competition. Having finished top of the Carioca state-wide league in 2024, and currently 3rd in the Brazilian Serie A, Flamengo are one of the top teams in South America, and they secured their place in the Club World Cup with their 2022 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores win.
Esperance de Tunis were ranked as one of the best teams in the Confederation of African Football who didn’t win the CAF Champions League. The 33 time champions of the Tunisian top division, Tunis have been on a dominant run in Tunisia, having won 6 of the last 7 Tunisian Premier Leagues.
Chelsea FC have had a complicated run since their 2021 Champions League victory over Manchester City. Chelsea won the 2021 Club World Cup, but turmoil has fallen over the club in recent years. With new ownership and struggles on the field, Chelsea haven’t been as dominant as they were when they went on their 2021 Champions League run. However, with a newfound stride under Enzo Maresca, a run in the Club World Cup is not out of the question for Chelsea.
Club Leon’s 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup win secured them the spot in this tournament. Looking towards their second appearance in the Club World Cup, Club Leon currently sit 11th in the Liga MX.
Group E:
- River Plate (Argentina)
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
- Monterrey (Mexico)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
River Plate return to the Club World Cup for the first time since 2018, when they finished 3rd place in the tournament, three years after finishing as the runner ups to 2015 Club World Cup Champions: Barcelona. In recent years, Los Millionarios won the 2023 Primera Division, their Argentinian best 38 years. While the international success hasn’t produced trophies over the last four years, River Plate cannot be underestimated in the Club World Cup.
Winners of the 2022 Asian Football Conference Champions League and fourth place finishers in the 2023 Club World Cup, Urawa Red Diamonds find themselves in their 4th tournament. Red Diamonds have been successful in the Club World Cup, and Urawa will hope that their 2025 run goes like their 2007 campaign, when they finished third place in the tournament.
Monterrey in Mexico enter their 6th Club World Cup campaign in 2025 thanks to their 2021 Championship run in the CONCACAF Champions League. Monterrey are a strong club in CONCACAF, and with one of the more “up-in-the-air” groups of the tournament, you can’t put it past Monterrey to go on a run in the Club World Cup.
Inter Milan round out Group E. Having made the Champions League final in 2023 and Championship campaign in the 2023-24 Italian Serie A, Inter have been one of best teams in arguably Europe’s most competitive league. Another team selected due to their ranking in UEFA Football, Inter Milan have the talent to make a deep run in the Club World Cup, and will look to repeat their 2010 performance when they won the 2010 Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Group F:
- Fluminense (Brazil)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Ulsan HD (South Korea)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores, Fluminense are currently struggling the Brazilian Serie A in 15th out of 20 teams. However, Fluminense did well in their first Club World Cup tournament, finishing as runner ups to Manchester City in 2023.
Borussia Dortmund’s 4-year ranking from UEFA saw them selected to this tournament, and the BVB is looking to win their first international title since 1997. The Yellow and Black are ranked as UEFA’s 8th strongest team, having been one of the biggest rivals of the German juggernauts Bayern Munich. Coming off a loss to Real Madrid in the 2024 Champions League Final, Dortmund are ready to prove that they are more than just one of the best teams in Germany.
Ulsan HD have been the strongest team to come out of South Korea. The Tigers have won three consecutive K-League titles, and while their international success hasn’t been to the same level as their domestic success, Ulsan HD are a team that could make an incredible run in Group F.
Similar to Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns out of South Africa have been selected because of their success in Confederation competition. Having made the quarterfinals each of the last four seasons, and the semi-final in the last two years. The Sundowns have won the last 7 South African Premier League titles. Mamelodi has some international success as well, winning the African Football League in 2023.
- Manchester City (England)
- Wydad AC (Morocco)
- Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
- Juventus (Italy)
One of the top teams in World Football, Manchester City are looking to repeat as Club World Cup champions. While cracks have been showing in Pep Guardiola’s machine, City are still one of the favorites to win the tournament. The winners of 7 of the last 8 Premier League titles, Manchester City have been dominant, and should continue to be dominant moving forward.
Wydad AC were the only team outside of Al Ahly to win an African Champions League over the past four seasons. With 22 Botola Titles, the Red Castle last won their top domestic flight in 2021. Currently 4th after 12 games, Wydad are looking to get back to their best form domestically. In international competition, Wydad won the 2022 African Champions League and finished as runners up a year later.
The winners of the 2024 Asian Champions League, Al Ain FC in the United Arab Emirates were one of the final teams to secure a spot in their second Club World Cup. Al Ain are hoping to better their result from 2018, when they finished runners up to Real Madrid. While not incredible dominant in the UAE, Al Ain are a team that has impressed on the international stage before and will look to do the same in 2025.
Juventus round out group G. The Italian Juggernauts have been one of Europe’s strongest teams over the past four seasons, despite not having a Champions League trophy. “The Old Lady” have not won the Serie A since the 2019-20 season, but they are consistently in the top five of the league. The 36 time champions of Italy enter their first Club World Cup, looking to win their first major international trophy since 1996.
Group H:
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
- Pachuca (Mexico)
- Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
One of the favorites to win the Club World Cup, The 2021-22 and 2023-24 UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid have the international success, especially in this tournament. Real Madrid have won the most Club World Cup trophies in tournament history, having won all five of their titles in their last five appearances in the tournament. The 36-time LaLiga champions are destined to make a major impact in this tournament, as they look to increase their record trophy count to 6.
The rise of Saudi Arabian football to the mainstream has been rapid. Al Hilal has been one of the teams that has benefitted the most from this meteoric rise. The winners of the 2021 Asian Champions League, Al Hilal have increased their international presence, signing superstars like Neymar to make them the most dominant team in the Middle East. Al-Hilal have never finished outside of the Club World Cup’s Top-4, and with the increased spending they’ve had, it’s hard to see anything else from “The Boss” of Saudi Football.
The 2024 CONCACAF Champions League winners, Pachuca were one of the final teams to qualify for the tournament, only having secured their spot in the Club World Cup back in June. Pachuca struggled in Liga MX this season, and their mixed success in the Club World Cup brings questions of how far they will go in 2025. While they’ve made deep runs in the Club Word Cup before, 2025 is so far away that it’s hard to analyze how Pachuca will perform.
Rounding out Group H and the Club World Cup is Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg. The first timers of the tournament were selected based on their strength in UEFA Competition. 2023-24 was the first season in ten years that RB Salzburg did not win the Austrian Bundesliga. Currently near the bottom of the UEFA Champions League, Salzburg might not be the powerhouse that they used to be, but with their scouting rapport and recruiting style, there is still time for Salzburg to better their team as they enter their first Club World Cup Tournament.
The 2025 Club World Cup kicks off on June 14th, 2025, with the hosts Inter Miami CF facing off against the Egyptian Champions, Al Ahly. Over the course of the tournament, 63 games will be played over the course of 29 days, with the winner set to be crowned the “World Champions” of Club Football.
