The FIFA Club World Cup brings together the champions from the top club competitions of each of the six continental confederations affiliated with FIFA. This tournament aims to crown the best club on the planet by pitting teams from Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, and Oceania against each other. It serves as a platform for diverse footballing schools to compete at the highest level, historically allowing the most decorated teams from each confederation to showcase their global dominance. In addition to the continental champions, past editions and the upcoming 2025 tournament also feature a representative from the host country, adding a local component and an opportunity for an additional club to participate. The event is not just a sporting competition but a highly anticipated gathering for football fans worldwide, showcasing the talent of teams and players from different regions, promoting diversity and passion for the most popular sport on the planet.
The 2025 edition marks a pivotal moment for the FIFA Club World Cup as it adopts a radically new format, transitioning to a quadrennial schedule similar to the FIFA World Cup for national teams. This transformation aims to enhance its global relevance and reach. Previously an annual event with seven teams, starting in 2025, it will feature 32 clubs, making it the most inclusive club competition organized by FIFA to date. This significant increase in participants completely transforms the scale of the tournament. The United States will host this inaugural edition of the revamped competition, hosting 63 matches across 12 stadiums throughout the country from June 14 to July 13, 2025.
Before the official creation of the FIFA Club World Cup, there were various tournaments that pitted clubs from different continents or regions, considered its predecessors. One such tournament was the Intercontinental Cup, which began in 1960, initially featuring the champions of the Copa Libertadores and the Champions League. The Intercontinental Cup ran continuously until 2004, undergoing format changes from home-and-away matches to a single final in Japan. Concurrently, FIFA introduced its own “Club World Championship” in 2000 in Brazil, including champions from all confederations and a host team. The 2000 edition, won by Corinthians, was a trial run that did not immediately continue. However, in 2005, the Intercontinental Cup merged with the concept of the Club World Championship, giving rise to the “FIFA Club World Cup” as it was known until 2023. As of 2024, a revamped Intercontinental Cup returned with a different format, while the Club World Cup became quadrennial.
Since the inception of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2000, several teams have lifted the prestigious trophy. The first champion in 2000 was Corinthians. Subsequently, under the annual format from 2005 to 2023, other clubs etched their names in the tournament’s history. Real Madrid holds the record for most titles in the history of the FIFA Club World Cup, with five championships. Following closely is FC Barcelona with three titles. Teams like Corinthians and Bayern Munich have won the tournament twice. Clubs such as São Paulo, Internacional, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City have also been crowned world champions under the previous format, representing the global elite of club football that has dominated the competition to date.
The 2025 edition will feature 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, with single-elimination matches leading to the final. The allocation of the 32 slots is as follows: 12 for UEFA, 6 for Conmebol, 5 for Concacaf, 4 for CAF, 4 for AFC, and 1 for OFC. Additionally, there will be a slot for the host team, in this case, Inter Miami CF. Matches will be played in 12 stadiums across the United States, including iconic venues like Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium for the opening match and the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey for the final. Other significant stadiums will host matches throughout the tournament. DAZN has been confirmed as the global exclusive broadcaster of the event.
As the FIFA Club World Cup approaches its groundbreaking 2025 edition with an expanded format and increased global participation, the footballing world eagerly anticipates a spectacle that will not only showcase the best clubs but also celebrate the diversity and passion that unite fans across continents. This evolution of the tournament signifies a new chapter in club football, where teams from around the world converge to compete for the title of the best club on the planet, embodying the spirit of unity through sport.
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