FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Format, Teams & Preview

If you’re a U.S. soccer fan, you’ve got to be thrilled that the FIFA Club World Cup is coming to the States. Not only will there be thrilling soccer action on your doorstep, but the host's automatic entry has gone to Inter Miami, meaning the great Lionel Messi will be strutting his stuff.

But, if you’re new to soccer, you might be wondering what teams are in the FIFA Club World Cup, or what the tournament structure is in. In this guide, we will make sure all your questions are answered. Remember to keep an eye on Livesportsontv.com if you are ever wondering how and where to watch a game.

What is the FIFA Club World Cup?

The FIFA Club World Cup is a global competition featuring the top performing soccer teams from each continent, and the 2025 edition is going to be the biggest and best yet. In 2025, the newly expanded format will see 32 teams battle it out for glory, instead of the seven that previously participated. This used to simply be one team representing each continent, plus an extra team from the host nation, but this expanded format makes it a far more comprehensive World Cup model. Under the new structure, the tournament will occur every four years, rather than annually.

Teams will be divided into eight groups of four, competing in a group stage before advancing to knockout rounds. The top two teams from each group progress to the Round of 16, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final, taking place at MetLife stadium.

How do teams qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup?

A team’s ability to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup will depend on their continental success. Teams qualify by winning their respective continental club competitions. In Europe, that is the UEFA Champions League, and then you also have Copa Libertadores, AFC Champions League, CAF Champions League, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and OFC Champions League.

In this newly expanded 32-team format, slots have been attributed proportionally among continents, with Europe and South America typically receiving more entries due to their historical performance. Europe is sending 12 clubs, Asia, Africa, and North America are sending four each, and South America is sending their six best-performing teams from the Copa Libertadores. The Oceania Football Confederation gets one entry, and then you have the additional team for the host nation, which will be Inter Miami in 2025.

These entry slots are filled based on performance over a four-year qualification cycle, with the strongest-performing teams earning the coveted entries.

2025 FIFA Club World Cup Tournament Format

In the group stage, each team will play three matches, competing once against each opponent. They will earn three points for a win and one point for a draw, with the hope of landing inside the top two spots, which will propel them to the next round.

The next stage is the Round of 16, which kickstarts the knockout phase of the tournament, progressing into the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. If the scores are tied at the end of any of these clashes, the game will go to extra time and penalties.

Livesportsontv.com will be regularly updated with match times and broadcasting information, ensuring you don’t miss a single moment.

When is the Club World Cup Final?

The final will take place at MetLife Stadium on the 13th of July, 2025, kicking off at 3pm Eastern Time. As part of the effort to grow this tournament, FIFA has introduced a considerable amount of cash to incentivize teams. A billion dollars will be distributed between teams throughout the tournament, with the winners accumulating $125 million for their club.

There is also the additional perk of being crowned club champions of the world, which certainly does have a nice ring to it.

FIFA Club World Cup 2029

The 2029 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup will also be taking place in June and July, however, the location is not yet determined. The bidding process is currently underway, with Australia, Spain, and Portugal, all in the mix.

Written by: Venuse, Inc. (Sports Content Creator)

LiveSportsOnTV.com aims to provide accurate and timely broadcast information based on official listings and verified sports media sources. While we may earn a commission on affiliate links, all recommendations are editorially independent.