The draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, set to be held in the United States, took place on Thursday, revealing the groups for the expanded 32-team tournament. The event will be held across 12 stadiums nationwide from June 15 to July 13, serving as a dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Among the top teams participating are giants such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter Milan, alongside the leading South American teams, including Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate, and Fluminense.
Manchester City, the 2023 Club World Cup champions, were drawn into Group G alongside Juventus, Wydad Casablanca, and Al Ain. City, currently fourth in the Premier League and dealing with injuries to key players such as Rodri, will begin their campaign against Wydad Casablanca before facing Al Ain and concluding their group stage against Juventus. This marks City’s second appearance in the tournament under the new format.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, representing the host nation, will play in Group A and face Al Ahly in the opening match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The group also features Porto and Palmeiras. Messi’s participation adds significant excitement to the tournament, as Miami earned their place by winning the Supporters’ Shield despite a quick exit from the MLS playoffs. MLS Commissioner Don Garber expressed his enthusiasm, emphasizing the league’s growth and the opportunity to showcase it on a global stage.
Other notable matchups include Paris Saint-Germain facing Atlético Madrid and Botafogo playing in Seattle in Group B, while Group E sees Monterrey take on Inter Milan. Real Madrid will go head-to-head with Al-Hilal in Group H, with the possibility of seeing superstars like Kylian Mbappé and Neymar in action. The competition follows a traditional World Cup-style format with eight round-robin groups, where the top two teams from each will advance to a knockout stage.
The draw, overseen by former Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero, was broadcast with a message from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who expressed excitement about the event.
