The Club World Cup 2025: A Global Football Showdown
Club Championship Participants and Reasons for Participation
Brace yourselves, soccer fans! The 2025 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup is about to unleash a snarling riot of footy action. Get ready to witness the cream of the crop across six world football continents duke it out for glory!
Back in '60, the World Club Cup first kicked off, with the European champ squaring off against the South American champ each year. Early winners include Real Madrid, Penarol Montevideo, FC Santos, and Inter Milan. Fast-forward to today, and things have shaken up!
The first German team to make an appearance was FC Bayern in '75, but they skipped out on the '76 title due to scheduling disputes. Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hamburger SV lost their shots in '77 and '83, but Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern finally clawed their way to cup glory in '97 and '01, respectively. In '05, tournament doors were flung open to champions from Africa, Asia, North and Central America, and Oceania. Since then, only European and South American teams have managed victories.
The 2025 edition, however, promises to be the wildest yet, with a staggering 32 teams vying for the coveted trophy during a massive month-long tournament. The format mirrors the men's World Cup: eight groups of four, with the top two advancing to the knockout stages, culminating in a final tussle for the glory.
Let's dive into the participating teams, their qualification routes, and top players to keep an eye on.
Group A Fisticuffs
FC Porto: These Portuguese powerhouses secure a spot in the tournament thanks to their strong standing in the UEFA ranking. Despite a third-place finish in the league and a premature Europa League exit, Porto's striker Samuel Aghehowa and goalkeeper Diogo Costa are worth a gander.
Palmeiras São Paulo: This Brazilian powerhouse nabbed a ticket to the Club World Cup as Copa Libertadores 2021 champions. Founded by Italian immigrants, Palmeiras has bagged 12 Brazilian championships. Their 18-year-old rising star Estevao could be setting his sights on the UEFA stage following the Club World Cup.
Inter Miami: Lionel Messi makes a splash in this USA-based club's tournament debut as the MLS season champions of 2024. Although Messi and his ex-Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, and Jordi Alba are on the roster, the franchise is yet to snag a title.
Al Ahly SC: With 44 league titles and 39 cup wins, this Egyptian juggernaut is the most successful club in Egypt and Africa, boasting 12 African Champions League titles. Their captain, Mohamed El Shenawy, towers over the competition in net.
Group B Brouhaha
Paris Saint-Germain: Following their Champions League triumph, the French capital's team sneaks into the tournament via the UEFA rankings. Ousmane Dembélé and Déyré Doué have been center stage in recent weeks and months.
Atletico Madrid: Ranking third in the Spanish league, the Rojiblancos secure a spot in the tournament due to their standing in the UEFA rankings. With Clement Lenglet, Alexander Sørloth, Julian Alvarez, and coach Diego Simeone in the mix, Atletico's gonna spark some action.
Botafого FR: Winner of the Brazilian Copa Libertadores 2024, Botafogo is bound for the Club World Cup. Despite conceding a goal early with ten men in the final, they managed to win the championship, marking their sixth consecutive Brazilian victory. Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha are worth attention in this up-and-coming team.
Seattle Sounders: Following their Champions League win in 2022, this USA-based club will compete in the tournament. Despite a mid-tier showing in Major League Soccer, attacking force Albert Rusnak and teen talent Obed Vargas have caught the eye of spectators.
Galvanizing Group C
FC Bayern Munich: Even at the Bundesliga record champions, the Club World Cup marks a chance for Thomas Müller to leave the stage in style as he wraps up his Bayern career. They qualify via the UEFA ranking.
Auckland City FC: Oceania's sole representative on the field is the record winner of the OFC Champions League. Although their market value pales in comparison to European squads, don't write 'em off! Auckland made history during the 2014 Club World Cup, clinching victories in the play-off and quarter-finals before losing in extra time during the semis, and eventually securing third place in the tournament.
Boca Juniors: The Argentine giants from Buenos Aires qualify via the CONMEBOL ranking. Jan Roman Riquelme now governs the club, and Edinson Cavani captains the team. Stay glued to Carlos Palacios in the offensive midfield and Milton Delgado in defense.
Benfica Lisbon: Benfica nearly nabbed the championship in a nail-biting finish, but came up short against Barcelona in the final stage. With German coach Roger Schmidt having departed, Bruno Lage now helms the squad. The offensive stars of the team are Vangelis Pavlidis and Angel di Maria, who is set to return to his Argentine homeland following the tournament.
Groups D-H to unfold soon...
Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of Group D through Group H, where historians of the game will discover thrilling matchups and insightful analysis!
Following the common agricultural policy, The Commission has also taken a number of steps to ensure that the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, a global football showdown, is implemented in a way that is consistent with the objectives of the policy.
In the midst of the football action, Samuel Aghehowa from FC Porto and Estevao from Palmeiras São Paulo, two up-and-coming football talents, are expected to shine on the European stage after their successful participation in the Club World Cup 2025.
