FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Exploring the New 32-Team Format

The FIFA Club World Cup is set to undergo a significant transformation in 2025, expanding to include 32 teams from around the globe. This revamped tournament aims to elevate the competition’s prestige and provide a more comprehensive representation of international club football.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Ronaldo Present the FIFA Club World Cup Trophy.

New Tournament Format

The updated format mirrors that of the FIFA World Cup, featuring:

• Group Stage: Eight groups, each comprising four teams. Teams will engage in a single round-robin format, playing three matches within their group. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stages.   

• Knockout Stage: Consists of the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final. All knockout matches are single-elimination. If a match ends in a draw, extra time and, if necessary, penalty shootouts will determine the winner.

Qualification Criteria

Teams earn their spots based on their performance in continental competitions over the preceding four years. For instance, UEFA allocates places to Champions League winners and other high-performing clubs, while CONMEBOL considers Copa Libertadores champions. This approach ensures that the tournament features clubs that have consistently excelled in their respective regions.

Host Nation and Venues

The United States will host the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, marking a significant milestone as the tournament expands. Matches are scheduled across various cities, including Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Pasadena, and Washington, D.C., among others. The final is slated for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a venue with a capacity of 82,500, which has previously hosted major events like the Copa América Centenario final in 2016.    

Broadcasting and Coverage

Per A Warner Bros. statement the games will be broadcasted as quoted:

"Kicking off on Saturday, June 14 in Miami, the CWC tournament will bring together 32 of soccer’s best clubs from around the world. Warner Bros. Discovery networks TNT, TBS and truTV will televise 24 of the tournament’s 63 matches to fans across the US. Thanks to this collaboration, fans in the US will be able to watch the action from the group stage, knockout stages and the Final in more ways, across more platforms.

In addition, DAZN and TNT Sports will enhance the fan experience with English-language studio programming plus additional ancillary programming throughout the tournament. Furthermore, TNT Sports’ Bleacher Report, House of Highlights, and B/R Football will produce and share content across their social platforms."

Implications for Global Football

The expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup to 32 teams is FIFA’s ambition to enhance the tournament’s stature and global appeal. However, this expansion has also sparked discussions about player welfare and the congested football calendar, with organizations like FIFPRO expressing concerns over potential impacts on players’ health.