Fifa Club World Cup 2025: When is it? Which groups are Manchester City and Chelsea in?
This month sees the start of the Fifa Club World Cup.32 teams - including Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea - will head to the US for the four-week club football competition.Previously an annual tournament contested by seven teams, the new-look Club World Cup will now feature more teams from across all six Fifa confederations, and occur once every four years.But what can we expect from the updated version and which other teams are taking part?Here's everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.Are you excited for the tournament? Which team will you be supporting? Let us know in the comments below!
Where is the Club World Cup taking place?
This year's Club World Cup will take place in the United States.Matches will be played in 12 different stadiums across 11 cities in the country.The tournament is seen by many as a taste of what we can expect to see at next year's Fifa World Cup.That's because football's biggest tournament will take place in the US - as well as in Canada and Mexico - in summer 2026.
When is the Club World Cup taking place?
The 2025 Club World Cup begins on Sunday 15 June, with the final on Sunday 13 July.The opening match (at 1am UK time) sees Lionel Messi's Inter Miami take on Egyptian side Al Ahly at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.The final will take place a month later at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
What is the tournament format?
32 teams will take part in the Club World Cup - split into eight groups of four teams.In the group stage, teams in the same group play each other once.After all the group stage matches have been played, the top two teams from each group will proceed to the round of 16.The winners of each round of 16 match will then progress to the quarter-finals, with the semi-finals and final to follow.
Who are the current champions?
Manchester City are the most recent champions, having won the 2023 tournament in Saudi Arabia.They beat Brazilian side Fluminense 4-0 in the final, to lift the trophy for the first time.In total, four English teams have been crowned champions - as well as City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have also previously won the Club World Cup.There was no Club World Cup last year.
Which teams are taking part in the Club World Cup?
32 teams including two from the Premier League - Manchester City and Chelsea - will head to America for the four-week competition. Other big clubs taking part include Real Madrid, Harry Kane's Bayern Munich and recent Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.Here are the full groups:Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter MiamiGroup B: Paris St-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle SoundersGroup C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, BenficaGroup D: Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, Chelsea, Los Angeles FCGroup E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter MilanGroup F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi SundownsGroup G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, JuventusGroup H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg
Which group are Manchester City in and when are they playing?
Manchester City have been drawn in Group G alongside Moroccan club Wydad, United Arab Emirates team Al Ain and Italian side Juventus.The defending champions will begin their campaign on Wednesday 18 June against Wydad in Philadelphia. The game kicks off at 5pm UK time (midday local time).Their second group match is in Atlanta against Al Ain on Sunday 22 June. Kick-off is 2am UK time (9pm local time).City will then face Juventus in their final group game, which takes place in Orlando on Thursday 26 June at 8pm UK time (3pm local time).
Which group are Chelsea in and when are they playing?
Chelsea are in Group D along with Brazilian team Flamengo, Tunisia's Esperance Sportive de Tunis and US side Los Angeles FC.Their first match is in Atlanta against Los Angeles FC on Monday 16 June. The game kicks off at 8pm UK time.Chelsea will then face Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday 20 June. Kick-off is 7pm UK time.Their final group match, on Wednesday 25 June, sees them go up against Esperance Sportive de Tunis in Philadelphia at 2am UK time.
Which football stars could we see play at the Club World Cup?
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has claimed "there are discussions" over Cristiano Ronaldo playing at the Club World Cup.Ronaldo's club, Al-Nassr of the Saudi Pro League, failed to qualify for the tournament but Infantino says the Portuguese legend, who is out of contract this summer, could still feature in the new-look event.Fifa has introduced an additional transfer window from 1-10 June, to allow clubs to complete deals in time for the tournament.And there could also be a bit of sibling rivalry to look forward to as well.There's a chance that England superstar Jude Bellingham could play against his brother Jobe.That's because Borussia Dortmund are in advanced talks to sign his younger sibling from Sunderland.The German side have qualified for the Club World Cup, alongside Jude's team, Real Madrid.
Why is the Club World Cup controversial?
Fifa is currently facing legal action about the scheduling of the tournament.Global players' union Fifpro and the top European Leagues say the international football calendar is too busy and "risks player safety and wellbeing".Several players - including Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker and Manchester City star and current holder of the Ballon d'Or Rodri - have raised concerns about player well-being amid an increasingly jam-packed football schedule.There are only five weeks between the Club World Cup final and the first Premier League match of the 2025-2026 season, which takes place on 16 August.Some have also complained that the Club World Cup will partially overlap with the women's Euro 2025 tournament, which runs from 2-27 July.
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