Figure 1 It is the biggest football competition this summer – Source: Pexels
Even if you are not the biggest football fan in the world you will probably have heard of the FIFA World Cup. It has long been considered the most important and prestigious international tournament and takes place every four years. It is always a time for national pride and the best players performing for their home countries.
The next edition of the World Cup takes place next year in the US, Mexico, and Canada. But this summer we will have the all-new club version to enjoy. To find out who to back in the competition you may want to consult a good BetOnline review and discover its range of markets. But for a little background information on the FIFA Club World Cup, you just need to read on.
We will tell you all about the history of the competition, which teams are involved, and even who you should be keeping an eye on as a potential champion. Although the Club World Cup is not officially a brand new tournament, this year’s event has a completely new format and will boast many of the best players in the world. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Old Competition, New Format
Many football fans are talking about the Club World Cup as if it is a brand new competition. In a way, that is true. But there has also been a relatively similar meeting of the world’s top teams for decades. There has been a version of an intercontinental competition since the early 1960s but for a long time, it was a one-off game between the European and South American champions.
This way of determining the informal “world champion” remained the same until the turning of the millennium, when a new expanded format was introduced, involving teams from every confederation. There have usually been only six or seven clubs taking part until this year when 32 of the world’s top teams will be challenging for honors. The change in format is why this tournament feels like something new.
Teams on Show
Just like the international World Cup, this tournament is supposed to be for the best teams across the globe. If it was purely the best 32 clubs in the world it would probably be just European and South American, but this competition takes the best from every confederation, to give it a more global appeal.
There are still more teams from Europe (12) and South America (6) but there are also some top teams from Africa, Asia, and even one from Oceania. Big names like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester City will be on show, alongside Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, Ulsan HD from South Korea, and New Zealand’s Auckland City.
Venues and Host Cities
Over the last few editions, the Club World Cup has also been used as almost a test event for the World Cup the next year. FIFA has seen it as a good way to ensure that host venues and cities are “match-ready” for the big event. But this year the Club World Cup will only be played in the US.
Some of the cities are the same as for the 2026 World Cup, such as New York and Atlanta. But other venues, like Orlando and Cincinnati, will be used for this competition only. The majority of the venues are located in the eastern half of the country, possibly with the global television audience in mind.
Competition Format
For decades, the Club World Cup has been played between seven clubs, with the champions of Europe and South America receiving a bye for the earlier qualifying rounds, coming in at the semifinal stage. Although teams from those confederations are still expected to do well, every club will begin at the group stage in 2025.
There will be eight groups of four, with all teams playing each other once. The top two clubs will then progress to the knockout stage, providing fans with a round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, before the final. The first group game kicks off on June 14, with the winners being crowned in New York on July 13.
Reception from Fans and Players
Although the Club World Cup has always been a relatively prestigious tournament in some areas of the world, the biggest clubs in Europe have not always looked at it as one of the major honors – until they go and actually win it, of course. FIFA was hoping that making the club version more like the international tournament would help boost its image.
That hasn’t exactly been the case, however. The main players union has raised concerns over adding even more games to the football calendar, especially at the end of an already grueling season. Fans have also been slow to buy tickets for the event, suggesting that FIFA may have been misguided in its thinking. We will know more once the competition is underway, though, as events quite regularly become more popular once they have begun.
Figure 2 Messi will be swapping his Argentina jersey for an Inter Miami one – Source: Unsplash
Who is Going to Win?
Now you know everything you need to know about the Club World Cup, you are probably wondering who is actually going to win it. Although it will be interesting to see how the best teams in Africa, Asia, and even South America get on – as well as a certain Lionel Messi with Inter Miami – it is the European super-clubs that are the overwhelming favorites.
It is no surprise that the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City, and the current UEFA Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain, are all expected to be in with a shout with lifting the incredibly elaborate trophy. These wealthy clubs are already able to buy the best players in the world – and now one of them is likely to be able to add another title to their long list of honors.
