The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 was the first edition of the newly expanded 32-team tournament, held across the United States from 14 June to 13 July 2025. Organised by FIFA, this landmark competition brought together the best club sides from every confederation for a month-long festival of football, culminating in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.
What is the FIFA Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup is an international club football competition organised by FIFA, featuring the top clubs from each of the six continental confederations. Previously a compact annual event involving just six to eight teams, the tournament was overhauled in 2025 into a major quadrennial competition featuring 32 clubs drawn from around the world.
The expanded format allocates places by confederation: 12 from UEFA (Europe), 6 from CONMEBOL (South America), 4 each from AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), and Concacaf (North and Central America and the Caribbean), 1 from OFC (Oceania), and 1 from the host nation. Teams are drawn into eight groups of four, with the top two in each group advancing to a knockout stage comprising the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
When was the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
The tournament ran from Saturday 14 June to Sunday 13 July 2025, spanning four weeks. The group stage took place from 14 to 28 June, with three matchdays per group. The round of 16 followed from 1 to 4 July, the quarter-finals on 5 and 6 July, and the semi-finals on 8 and 9 July. The final was held on 13 July 2025 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Where was the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
The 2025 edition was hosted entirely within the United States, making use of 12 stadiums across 11 cities. The venues were:
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (final venue)
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida (opening match)
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Audi Field, Washington D.C.
- Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
- Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
- TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee
- Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
MetLife Stadium, home to both the New York Giants and New York Jets in the NFL, hosted the showpiece final. The venue has a capacity of over 82,000 and is also set to host matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Key Contenders
The tournament attracted some of the biggest names in world club football. Real Madrid, the most decorated club in Champions League history, entered as one of the pre-tournament favourites and were drawn into Group H alongside Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Pachuca, and Red Bull Salzburg.
Manchester City, representing the Premier League, were placed in Group G with Juventus, Al Ain, and Wydad Casablanca. Paris Saint-Germain, bolstered by significant investment and European pedigree, competed in Group B alongside Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, and Seattle Sounders.
Chelsea, who would go on to lift the trophy, were drawn into Group D with Flamengo, Esperance de Tunis, and Los Angeles FC. Bayern Munich (Group C), Inter Milan (Group E), and Borussia Dortmund (Group F) rounded out the strong European contingent.
South American representation included Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo. Inter Miami, featuring Lionel Messi, generated enormous local interest despite being among the less fancied sides on sporting merit.
How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup
DAZN secured global streaming rights for the 2025 tournament through a landmark deal valued at approximately $1 billion. All 63 matches were streamed free to view on the DAZN platform worldwide, marking an unprecedented move for a FIFA competition of this scale.
In addition to DAZN’s global coverage, sublicensing deals brought matches to linear broadcasters in key markets. In the United Kingdom, Channel 5 aired 23 matches on free-to-air television. In China, Migu held exclusive streaming rights. Eurosport India and FanCode covered the Indian subcontinent, StarTimes broadcast across Sub-Saharan Africa, and Saudi Sports Company held rights for the Middle East and North Africa region.
History of the FIFA Club World Cup
The competition traces its origins to the FIFA Club World Championship, first held in Brazil in 2000. After a hiatus between 2001 and 2004, the tournament was relaunched in 2005 and incorporated the traditions of the Intercontinental Cup, which had pitted the champions of Europe and South America against each other since 1960. The event was renamed the FIFA Club World Cup in 2006.
Under the original format, the tournament was held annually and typically featured seven teams in a compact knockout bracket. Real Madrid dominated this era, winning a record five titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022). Other notable winners include Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Corinthians. Spanish clubs proved the most successful overall, with eight titles from the competition’s history.
The 2025 expansion represented the biggest structural change in the competition’s history, transforming it from a week-long event into a month-long, World Cup-style tournament. Chelsea’s victory in the inaugural expanded edition added another chapter to the London club’s global honours.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the 2025 tournament were sold through Ticketmaster, with prices starting from $30 for group stage matches and rising to over $600 for the final. Hospitality packages were available directly through FIFA’s official website, offering suite access and premium experiences across single or multiple matchdays.
The tournament drew significant crowds across all 12 venues, with the MetLife Stadium final attracting a capacity audience. The spread of matches across 11 American cities brought the competition to a wide geographical footprint, from the Pacific Northwest (Seattle) to the Southeast (Miami, Atlanta).
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 take place?
The tournament ran from 14 June to 13 July 2025, with 63 matches played across 12 venues in the United States.
Who won the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
Chelsea won the inaugural expanded-format tournament, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
How many teams competed?
32 teams from all six continental confederations participated, drawn into eight groups of four before progressing to a knockout stage.
Where was the final held?
The final was held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 13 July 2025.
When is the next FIFA Club World Cup?
The next edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup is expected to take place in 2029, with the host nation yet to be confirmed. FIFA’s schedule positions the tournament as a quadrennial event between World Cup cycles.