FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Everything You Need to Know About the Global Football Showdown

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicked off on June 14, 2025, in the United States, marking the debut of an expanded 32-team format. Hosted across 12 iconic stadiums in 11 cities, the tournament features 63 matches over 29 days, culminating in the final on July 13 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. With stars like Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and European giants Real Madrid competing, the event aims to crown the world’s best club. Fans in India can catch the action live on FanCode and Eurosport, while DAZN streams all matches globally for free. This revamped tournament, backed by a $1 billion prize pool, has sparked both excitement and debate over its impact on football’s calendar.

New Format Explained

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 adopts a World Cup-style format, expanding from the previous seven-team setup to 32 clubs. Teams are divided into eight groups of four, playing three round-robin matches each. The top two teams from each group advance to a knockout stage, including a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final. Unlike past editions, there’s no third-place playoff. This structure, mirroring the FIFA World Cup from 1998 to 2022, aims to enhance competitiveness and global appeal.

Participating Teams and Groups

The 32 teams represent six FIFA confederations: 12 from UEFA (Europe), six from CONMEBOL (South America), four each from AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), and CONCACAF (North/Central America), one from OFC (Oceania), and one from the host nation (Inter Miami). Qualification was based on continental championship wins from 2021 to 2024 or confederation rankings, with a maximum of two clubs per country, except Brazil, which has four due to its CONMEBOL dominance.

Highlights

The tournament began with Inter Miami facing Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, on June 14. The group stage runs until June 26, with matches like Chelsea vs. LAFC (June 16, Atlanta) and Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal (June 18, Miami) drawing attention. The knockout stage starts on June 28, with quarter-finals on July 5-6, semi-finals on July 9-10, and the final on July 13 at MetLife Stadium. All times for Indian viewers are in IST, with matches typically starting between midnight and 9:30 PM.

Sample Group Stage Matches (IST)

June 15: Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami, 5:30 AM (Miami)

June 16: Chelsea 2-0 LAFC, 12:30 AM (Atlanta)

June 17: Boca Juniors 2-2 Benfica, 3:30 AM (Miami)

June 18: Manchester City vs. Wydad AC, 9:30 PM (Philadelphia)

Host Cities and Venues

The tournament spans 12 world-class stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, selected for their facilities and history of hosting major events. MetLife Stadium (82,500 capacity) hosts the final, while the Rose Bowl (88,500 capacity) is the largest venue. Five stadiums will also feature in the 2026
FIFA World Cup.

Where to Watch in India

Indian fans can watch live streaming of all FIFA Club World Cup 2025 matches on the FanCode app and website. Select games are telecast live on Eurosport TV channels. Globally, DAZN streams all 63 matches for free, accessible via their app or website. In the U.S., TNT Sports and TelevisaUnivision also broadcast matches.

Prize Money and Innovations

FIFA has allocated a $1 billion prize pool, with the winner earning up to $125 million. Each club is guaranteed at least $40 million, with performance bonuses for wins ($2 million) and draws ($1 million). The tournament introduces body cameras for referees and advanced semi-automated offside technology for faster, accurate decisions.

Evolution of the Club World Cup

Historically, the Club World Cup featured six to eight teams annually, with Real Madrid winning five titles, the most in its history. The 2023 edition, won by Manchester City, was the last in the old format. The expanded 32-team tournament, announced in 2019 and postponed due to COVID-19, aims to rival the UEFA Champions League in prestige. However, critics, including LaLiga president Javier Tebas, argue it overcrowds the football calendar and lacks intensity, citing low attendance at matches like Chelsea vs. LAFC (22,127 in a 71,000-seat stadium).

Public Sentiment and Challenges

Posts on X show excitement for stars like Messi and teams like Real Madrid, but some fans echo concerns about low turnout, as seen in Atlanta’s sparse crowd for Chelsea’s 2-0 win over LAFC. DAZN’s $1 billion investment in global streaming rights, backed by Saudi funding, has drawn scrutiny, with sublicensing struggles in markets like the UK. Despite this, DAZN aims to attract 100 million new users through free streaming.

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025, running from June 14 to July 13 in the U.S., brings together 32 top clubs in a groundbreaking format. With $1 billion in prizes, iconic venues, and free global streaming on DAZN, it’s a must-watch for football fans. Indian viewers can tune in via FanCode and Eurosport. Despite debates over scheduling and attendance, the tournament promises thrilling action. Who will lift the trophy? Share your predictions in the comments and follow for live updates!

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025, featuring 32 teams like Inter Miami and Real Madrid, kicks off June 14 in the USA. Learn the format, schedule, venues, and where to watch live in India on FanCode and DAZN.