The 2025 Club World Cup, to be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, is getting a facelift with a new format that will mark a turning point in the history of world soccer. The tournament, which brings together the best clubs from each continent, will be transformed into a larger, more ambitious competition, with the number of clubs rising from 7 to 32, with the aim of crowning the best club in the world.
Traditionally, the Club World Cup brings together the champions of the six continental confederations (Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, Oceania and North, Central America and the Caribbean) and the champion of the host country. However, the 2025 edition will see a significant expansion of the tournament. From now on, 32 clubs will take part in the competition, divided into eight groups of four, with each group comprising teams from different continental confederations for a total of 56 matches. Four (4) African clubs will represent the continent: Al Ahly (Egypt) in Group A, Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) in Group G, Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) in Group F and Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) in Group D.
The impact on international football
The expansion of the Club World Cup could change the balance of international football. Traditionally dominated by European and South American clubs, the competition could give Asian and African clubs a chance to shine on the world stage. By improving the quality of the participating teams and increasing the number of matches, the competition will enable clubs from all over the world to measure themselves against the giants of the game. Fifa President Gianni Infantino said that ‘‘the new FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which will feature 32 teams, would offer opportunities to players and fans from all over the world, helping it to achieve FIFA’s mission of making football truly global”
A turning point for FIFA and its sponsors
The Club World Cup 2025 is also a key step in FIFA’s strategy to increase the popularity and competitiveness of its international competitions. FIFA hopes to maximize financial returns, attract more sponsors and investment and, above all, capitalize on the growing passion for football around the world.
The Club World Cup, to be held in the USA from June to July 2025, will mark a major turning point for world football. With the number of participating clubs increasing, the competition promises to be epic. Clubs from all over the world will now have the opportunity to compete on the international stage like never before, and fans will be able to enjoy Football of unprecedented intensity.
