The New FIFA Club World Cup 2025
The world of club football has always been dominated by iconic tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, Copa Libertadores, and domestic leagues across Europe and South America. But in recent years, one tournament has sought to bring together the best of all these worlds. The FIFA Club World Cup (CWC), an international men’s competition organized by FIFA, has entered a new era in 2025, and for the first time ever, it is being hosted by the United States.
This landmark edition represents not only a transformation of the competition's format but also a pivotal moment for soccer's growing presence in North America. With 32 teams from across the globe descending on U.S. soil, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is poised to be one of the most exciting and ambitious tournaments in the history of club football.
The Origins of the Club World Cup
The idea of a club-level world championship can be traced back to the early 1990s. According to Sepp Blatter, then FIFA President, the concept was first pitched in 1993 by Silvio Berlusconi, the then-president of AC Milan, during a meeting in Las Vegas. At the time, each footballing continent already had its own championship, such as the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Libertadores. Blatter and FIFA saw an opportunity: to pit the best clubs from each continent against one another to crown a true world champion.
The inaugural FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in 2000. It featured eight teams, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Brazilian powerhouses Corinthians and Vasco da Gama. The tournament coincided with the long-standing Intercontinental Cup, and in 2017, FIFA would retroactively recognize winners of both competitions as official world champions.
After a hiatus due to the collapse of FIFA’s marketing partner ISL, the Club World Cup returned in 2005 and ran annually until 2023. The tournament's prestige has always been debated, especially as European teams often dominated and viewed it as secondary to their domestic and continental competitions. Still, the Club World Cup provided a global stage for clubs from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas to challenge Europe's best.
From Annual to Quadrennial: The New Format
In late 2022, FIFA officially announced a massive revamp: starting in 2025, the Club World Cup would become a 32-team event held every four years. This shift mirrors the structure of the FIFA World Cup for national teams and aims to elevate the competition's prestige and commercial viability.
The 2025 tournament features:
12 teams from Europe (UEFA)
6 teams from South America (CONMEBOL)
4 teams from Asia (AFC)
4 teams from Africa (CAF)
4 teams from North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF)
1 team from Oceania (OFC)
1 team from the host nation (USA)
The teams are divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 16, followed by knockout rounds leading to the final. The tournament runs over a month, and unlike the short, condensed format of previous editions, it promises a more immersive and competitive experience.
Why the U.S.? Why Now?
The decision to host the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States is both strategic and symbolic. The U.S. is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico, and the Club World Cup acts as a high-profile dress rehearsal for stadiums, logistics, and fan engagement. Hosting it also reflects the meteoric rise of soccer in America, driven by Major League Soccer's growth, an influx of international stars, and increasing youth participation.
FIFA sees the U.S. as a fertile ground for revenue, viewership, and expansion. The 2025 Club World Cup is a chance to showcase the global appeal of club football to new audiences while giving American fans a rare opportunity to watch elite international clubs live on home turf.
Clubs to Watch
With 32 of the world's best clubs in action, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is a football feast. Among the European powerhouses, expect participation from UEFA Champions League winners such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain. South America brings giants like Flamengo, River Plate, and Palmeiras.
From Asia and Africa, top clubs like Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al Ahly (Egypt), and Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) carry continental hopes. North American representatives include Liga MX and MLS clubs like Club America and LAFC, with one team representing the U.S. as host nation—likely the reigning MLS Cup winner.
Real Madrid enters the tournament as the most successful club in Club World Cup history, with five titles. Manchester City, the 2023 champions after a commanding 4–0 victory over Brazil’s Fluminense, will also be a team to beat.
Controversies and Concerns
Despite the fanfare, the new format hasn’t been without criticism. Many European clubs and national associations have voiced concerns over player fatigue, an already overcrowded calendar, and the tournament’s commercial motives. Critics argue that FIFA is prioritizing revenue over the welfare of players, risking injuries due to the packed schedule.
The introduction of the annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup—another club competition—has also raised eyebrows. Will fans embrace yet another tournament? Will clubs treat it with the same seriousness as the Champions League or domestic titles?
These questions linger, and the 2025 edition may well determine whether the expanded format has staying power or if it joins the list of overambitious FIFA experiments.
What Makes This Tournament Special?
For fans, the appeal is obvious: where else can you see Real Madrid play Al Ahly or Manchester City face off against Urawa Reds? The expanded Club World Cup offers matchups we rarely see, blending styles, cultures, and footballing philosophies.
For smaller clubs, it’s a once-in-a-generation chance to test themselves on a global stage. For players from lesser-known leagues, it’s a shop window to the world. For the host country, it’s a celebration of soccer’s growing global community, right in its own backyard.
And for FIFA, it’s a statement: club football is global now—not just a European affair.
Legacy and Looking Ahead
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marks a new chapter in global football. Its success will hinge on fan turnout, broadcasting reach, and the quality of the matches. If it delivers on its promise, it could redefine what it means to be the best club in the world.
In many ways, the U.S. is the perfect host. It’s a nation hungry for big sporting events, with infrastructure to match and a diverse, multicultural fanbase that reflects the global nature of the sport.
But beyond the spectacle lies a deeper question: Can this tournament truly rival the Champions League or Copa Libertadores in prestige? Only time will tell.
For now, all eyes are on America as it becomes the beating heart of global club football. The FIFA Club World Cup is no longer just a brief post-season exhibition. In 2025, it’s a full-blown football festival—and it’s happening now.
