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2025 FIFA Club World Cup
International soccer tournament held in 2025 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, also marketed as FIFA Club World Cup 25, was the 21st edition and the first of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, an international club soccer competition organized by FIFA. The tournament was held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025, and featured 32 teams. The expanded format included the continental champions from the past four years as well as additional qualified teams. Chelsea won the tournament, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3–0 in the final and becoming the inaugural world champions under the expanded format and the second overall.
The revised structure was modeled more closely on the FIFA World Cup as a quadrennial world championship, replacing the annual seven-team format used between 2000 and 2023. It featured the winners of each continent's top club competition from 2021 to 2024, except for a single entry from Oceania. Additional slots were awarded to clubs from Europe and South America based on rankings across the same four-year period. Manchester City, who won the final edition under the previous format in 2023, entered as the technical title holders but were eliminated in the round of 16 by Al-Hilal.
FIFA first announced the expanded format in March 2019, originally selecting China to host the inaugural edition in 2021. This was later postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2023, FIFA confirmed the allocation of qualification slots among confederations, and four months later announced the United States as the new host nation. Alongside this expansion, FIFA also introduced the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, an annual tournament based on the previous Club World Cup format.
The expansion of the tournament drew varied responses, with some concerns raised by the players' union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Forum regarding potential effects on fixture schedules and player welfare. Ticket sales were managed using dynamic pricing, which was later adjusted for several matches to boost attendance. International broadcasting rights were secured by streaming service DAZN, which sublicensed coverage to other networks. A total of $1 billion in prize money was distributed among the 32 clubs, including solidarity payments and allocations by confederation.
It was the first major FIFA tournament since the 1978 FIFA World Cup not to feature a penalty shootout.
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Background and format
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Since its return from hiatus in 2005, the FIFA Club World Cup had been held annually in December and was limited to the winners of continental club competitions.[1] As early as late 2016, FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggested expanding the Club World Cup to 32 teams beginning in 2019 and rescheduling it to June/July to be more balanced and attractive to broadcasters and sponsors.[2] In late 2017, FIFA discussed proposals to expand the competition to 24 teams and have it be played every four years starting in 2021, replacing the FIFA Confederations Cup.[3] The expanded format and schedule of Club World Cup, to be played in June and July 2021, was confirmed at the March 2019 FIFA Council meeting in Miami.[4][5] China was appointed as host in October 2019,[6] but the 2021 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8][9]
On June 23, 2023, FIFA confirmed that the United States would host the 2025 tournament as a prelude to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[10] The 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four teams, with the top two teams in each group qualifying to the knockout stage.[11] However, the only difference from the format used in the FIFA World Cup between 1998 and 2022 was that there was no third place playoff.[12]
In January 2024, it was reported that the tournament would mainly take place on the East Coast to be closer to European broadcasters and viewers while also avoiding conflicts with the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which also took place primarily in the United States around the same time, but mainly in the Western part of the country.[13]
Trophy
FIFA unveiled a newly designed trophy created by Tiffany & Co. for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Made from pure 24-karat gold, the trophy's design drew inspiration from pioneering maps, the periodic table, astronomy, and the Voyager Golden Record. It featured laser-engraved details including a world map, the names of all 211 FIFA member associations, descriptions of football, and inscriptions in 13 languages, including braille.[14] The trophy weighs approximately 5 kilograms (11 lb) and is valued between €200,000 or US$230,000.[15] The original trophy was kept by United States president Donald Trump in the Oval Office, while an identical replica was awarded to Chelsea, the first winners of the expanded tournament.[16]
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Slot allocation
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Buenos Aires
Rio de Janeiro
Europe
Location of the non-UEFA teams participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Madrid
Location of the UEFA teams participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
On February 14, 2023, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation for the 2025 tournament based on a "set of objective metrics and criteria". UEFA was awarded the most slots with twelve, while CONMEBOL was given the second most with six. The AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF were all given four slots, while the OFC and the host association were given one slot each.[17] On March 14, 2023, the FIFA Council approved the key principles of the access list for the tournament.[18] The principles were as follows, considering competitions completed during a four-year period from 2021 to 2024:[19]
- CONMEBOL and UEFA (more than four slots): access for the winners of the confederation's top club competition between 2021 and 2024, with additional teams to be determined by a club ranking of the four-year period.[19]
- AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF (four slots each): access for the winners of the confederation's top club competition between 2021 and 2024.[19][note 1]
- OFC (one slot): access for the highest-ranked club among the winners of the confederation's top club competition between 2021 and 2024.[19][note 2]
- Host country (one slot): this was determined at a later stage.
If a club won two or more seasons of its confederation's top club competition, additional teams determined club rankings over the four-year period. Furthermore, a restriction of two clubs per association was applied, with the exception of champion clubs if more than two clubs from the same association won their confederation's top club competition. The calculation method for the four-year club rankings within each confederation was based on the teams' performance in their respective continental tournaments during seasons completed between 2021 and 2024.[22]
For confederations other than UEFA, the method was as follows:[22]
- 3 points for a win
- 1 point for a draw
- 3 points for successful progression to each new stage of the competition
In the case of UEFA, due to the existence of the well-established UEFA club coefficient system, the method used by UEFA to calculate the club coefficient was "exceptionally applied" to rank the European teams.[22][note 3]
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Teams
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Qualification
The following teams qualified for the tournament:[23][24][25][19]
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AFC (4) CAF (4) |
CONCACAF (5)
CONMEBOL (6) OFC (1) |
UEFA (12)
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Draw
The draw was held on December 5, 2024, 1:00 p.m. EST, at the headquarters of television broadcaster Telemundo in the Miami suburb of Doral, Florida.[30][31] The ceremony was led by Alessandro Del Piero at the Telemundo headquarters.[30][32] FIFA announced the draw procedure and seeding pots two days prior to the draw,[33] taking into consideration sporting and geographical factors as far as possible.[34]
FIFA compiled the draw pots as follows, with teams ranked within each confederation based on FIFA's club ranking system:[19]
- Pot 1: The four top-ranked teams from both UEFA and CONMEBOL
- Pot 2: The remaining eight teams from UEFA
- Pot 3: The two top-ranked teams from each of AFC, CAF and CONCACAF, and the remaining two teams from CONMEBOL
- Pot 4: The remaining teams from AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, OFC and host country
In the draw, teams from the same confederation could not be drawn into the same group except for UEFA teams, for which there was at least one and no more than two per group. Additionally, no two UEFA teams from the same national association could be drawn into the same group.
To maintain competitive balance, two separate pathways of four groups were established for the knockout stage. They were composed as follows:
- Pathway 1: Winners of Groups A, C, E and G, paired with the runners-up of Groups B, D, F and H
- Pathway 2: Winners of Groups B, D, F and H, paired with the runners-up of Groups A, C, E and G
Given these pathways, UEFA and CONMEBOL teams faced the following constraints in the draw:
- UEFA teams ranked 1–2 and CONMEBOL teams ranked 1–2 were allocated to separate pathways, prevented from meeting until the semifinals should they win their groups
- UEFA teams ranked 3–4 and CONMEBOL teams ranked 3–4 were allocated to separate pathways, prevented from meeting until the semifinals should they win their groups
- UEFA teams ranked 1–4 were drawn into groups that would prevent them meeting until the semifinals should they win their groups
- CONMEBOL teams ranked 1–4 were drawn into groups that would prevent them meeting until the semifinals should they win their groups
- UEFA teams ranked 5–8 were drawn into groups with CONMEBOL teams ranked 1–4
- UEFA teams ranked 9–12 were drawn into groups with UEFA teams ranked 1–4
As teams from the host country and for scheduling purposes, Inter Miami CF and Seattle Sounders FC were drawn into position 4 of Groups A and B, respectively. Consequently, teams drawn into Groups A and B were allocated to the position corresponding to their draw pot.
The draw started with Pot 1 and ended with Pot 4, with each team selected then allocated into the first available group alphabetically, based on the draw constraints. For Groups C to H, the position for the team within the group was then drawn (for the purpose of the match schedule), with the Pot 1 teams automatically drawn into position 1 of each group.
The draw pots were as follows:[35]
Groups
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Venues
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On September 28, 2024, FIFA announced the selection of twelve venues in eleven cities for the tournament: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Audi Field in Washington D.C.; Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington; the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California; TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio; Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina; Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia; Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, which hosted the opening match involving Inter Miami;[36] Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee; Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida; and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which hosted the final.[37] Lumen Field hosted all three group stage matches for the Seattle Sounders.[38] Of these selected stadiums, five will be used in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[39] Contrary to other FIFA tournaments, including the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, all venues kept their original naming rights.[40]
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Training bases
According to a report from The Athletic, FIFA designated sites in host cities for team training bases, with priority given to clubs that had more matches in the area. Clubs were permitted to independently negotiate with other facility owners and operators, including several college athletic programs, to secure their own base. Several facilities were also designated by FIFA for use later in the tournament by qualified teams in the knockout rounds.[41] The team base camps for the group stage were confirmed by FIFA on June 3, 2025.[42]
- Oakland University has a Rochester mailing address, but the university's soccer complex is within the city limits of Rochester Hills.
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Match officials
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On April 14, 2025, FIFA confirmed that 117 match officials from 41 member associations would be selected for the tournament. This included 35 referees, 58 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials.[43][44]
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Schedule
On December 17, 2023, FIFA announced the tournament would take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025.[12] Prior to the draw, only the date and venue of the opening match (involving Inter Miami CF) and final was confirmed, along with the venue for the group stage matches of Seattle Sounders FC. The full match schedule with venues and kickoff times was finalized and published on December 7, 2024, following the draw.[45] The start date of the tournament was altered, with the tournament beginning one day earlier on June 14. The schedule was created taking into account factors such as "sporting and player-centric criteria, local and traveling fans and global broadcast considerations".[33]
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Squads
Each club was required to name a provisional squad of between 26 and 50 players for the tournament. From June 1 to 10, 2025, the member associations of all participating clubs implemented an extraordinary transfer window to allow for the registration of newly signed players. Clubs were required to name their final squads of between 26 and 35 players, including at least three goalkeepers, by June 10.[46] During the competition, clubs could make limited changes to their final lists from June 27 to July 3, should the club's member association have a transfer window open during this period, though no player could appear for two clubs during the tournament.[47] Should a club's goalkeeper have suffered from an injury or illness, that player could be replaced at any time.[34]
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Opening ceremony
French Montana and Swae Lee headlined the opening ceremony, which took place at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium before the opening match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami CF. Singers Vikina and Richaelio also performed during the ceremony, which was broadcast on DAZN.[48]
Group stage
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In the group stage, teams were divided into eight groups of four (groups A to H). Teams in each group played one another in a round-robin, from which the top two teams advanced to the knockout stage.
Group A
Source: FIFA
Notes:
Notes:
Group B
Source: FIFA
Notes:
Notes:
Group C
Source: FIFA
Group D
Source: FIFA
Group E
Source: FIFA
Group F
Source: FIFA
Group G
Source: FIFA
Group H
Source: FIFA
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Knockout stage
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In the knockout stage, if the scores were equal when normal playing time expired, extra time was played for two periods of 15 minutes each. This was followed, if required, by a penalty shootout to determine the winners.[34]
Bracket
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | |||||||||||
| June 30 – Charlotte | ||||||||||||||
 Inter Milan | 0 | |||||||||||||
| July 4 – Orlando | ||||||||||||||
 Fluminense | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Fluminense | 2 | |||||||||||||
| June 30 – Orlando | ||||||||||||||
 Al-Hilal | 1 | |||||||||||||
 Manchester City | 3 | |||||||||||||
| July 8 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||
| Al-Hilal (a.e.t.) | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Fluminense | 0 | |||||||||||||
| June 28 – Philadelphia | ||||||||||||||
| Chelsea | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Palmeiras (a.e.t.) | 1 | |||||||||||||
| July 4 – Philadelphia | ||||||||||||||
| Botafogo | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Palmeiras | 1 | |||||||||||||
| June 28 – Charlotte | ||||||||||||||
| Chelsea | 2 | |||||||||||||
 Benfica | 1 | |||||||||||||
| July 13 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||
| Chelsea (a.e.t.) | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Chelsea | 3 | |||||||||||||
| June 29 – Atlanta | ||||||||||||||
 Paris Saint-Germain | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 4 | |||||||||||||
| July 5 – Atlanta | ||||||||||||||
 Inter Miami CF | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2 | |||||||||||||
| June 29 – Miami Gardens | ||||||||||||||
 Bayern Munich | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Flamengo | 2 | |||||||||||||
| July 9 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||
| Bayern Munich | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 4 | |||||||||||||
| July 1 – Miami Gardens | ||||||||||||||
 Real Madrid | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Real Madrid | 1 | |||||||||||||
| July 5 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||
| Juventus | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Real Madrid | 3 | |||||||||||||
| July 1 – Atlanta | ||||||||||||||
| Borussia Dortmund | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Borussia Dortmund | 2 | |||||||||||||
 Monterrey | 1 | |||||||||||||
Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
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Statistics
Top goalscorers
1 own goal
Wessam Abou Ali (Al Ahly, against Palmeiras)
Tomás Avilés (Inter Miami CF, against Paris Saint-Germain)
Abdelmounaim Boutouil (Wydad AC, against Juventus)
Nathan Garrow (Auckland City, against Boca Juniors)
Pierre Kalulu (Juventus, against Manchester City)
Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns, against Borussia Dortmund)- Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, against Boca Juniors)
Erick Pulgar (Flamengo, against Bayern Munich)
Weverton (Palmeiras, against Chelsea)
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Awards
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The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament.[114]
FIFA also named a man of the match for the best player in each game at the tournament.[115]
Additionally, FIFA also shortlisted ten goals for the goal of the tournament award, which Lucas Ribeiro of Mamelodi Sundowns won for his goal against Borussia Dortmund, beating the likes of Lionel Messi's free kick against Porto, Kenan Yıldız against Al Ain and João Pedro against Fluminense.[116]
Prize money
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The distribution model split a total prize pool of US$1 billion between the 32 participating clubs. The winner of the tournament was awarded up to US$125 million, marking a significant increase in financial rewards compared to previous editions. In addition to the prize money for the participating teams, a solidarity investment program had a target of an additional US$250 million being provided to club football across the world.[117]
The distribution model for the 2025 edition was as follows:
Sporting performance pillar (US$475 million): Increasing payouts based on performance in the tournament.
- Group stage (three matches): + $2.0 million per win; + $1.0 million draw
- Round of 16: + $7.5 million
- Quarterfinal: + $13.125 million
- Semifinal: + $21.0 million
- Finalist: + $30.0 million
- Winner: + $40.0 million
Participation pillar (US$525 million): Guaranteed payments to all 32 clubs (amounts are per club).
- Europe: $12.81–38.19 million (determined by a ranking based on sporting and commercial criteria)
- South America: $15.21 million
- North, Central America & Caribbean: $9.55 million
- Asia: $9.55 million
- Africa: $9.55 million
- Oceania: $3.58 million
Solidarity payments (US$250 million): In addition to the prize money for the participating teams, these payments were allocated to support clubs worldwide, fostering development and inclusivity in global football.
Broadcasting
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On July 15, 2024, media rights tender for the 2025 edition of FIFA's new top club competition opened for the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.[118] FIFA published an "invitation to tender in the Americas, Asia, and Middle East & North Africa" weeks after talks with tech giant Apple over an exclusive $1 billion global rights deal for the tournament, which was said to be a quarter of FIFA's broadcasting target value for the tournament, reportedly stalled.[119][120][121] On September 19, 2024, FIFA called an emergency meeting to discuss broadcasting rights as a deal was still not reached.[122]
On December 4, 2024, DAZN acquired global rights to the tournament for €1 billion; streaming all games for free as well as sublicensing rights to certain local broadcasters.[123][124] For its own platform, DAZN decided to make an extensive coverage of the tournament, including special movies and programs, such as one featuring famous transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, focused on transfers leading up to the tournament.[125] DAZN also partnered with TikTok and content creators to promote the tournament in the short-video platform and in other social medias.[126]
In the days leading up to the tournament, Sportradar announced a sub-licensing deal with DAZN for data and audiovisual broadcast for betting websites. Sportradar worked with partners to retransmit DAZN video data to its clients as well as use the data for match fixing prevention purposes, as part of an existing partnership with FIFA.[127]
On April 10, 2025, Chinese streaming platform Migu acquired broadcast rights in China to the FIFA Club World Cup in a direct deal spanning two editions. Since DAZN had no presence in China, it was understood that FIFA negotiated the deal with Migu directly.[128]
On June 11, 2025, Coupang Play in South Korea announced it would provide coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup under a separate pricing plan to its basic plan.[129] DAZN had no presence in South Korea, but it was unknown whether Coupang Play negotiated the broadcasting rights through DAZN or directly with FIFA.
The following is the list of DAZN sublicensed broadcasters:
The following was the direct licensing partner:
Marketing
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Branding
On September 4, 2024, FIFA released the official emblem and audio signature of the tournament. The emblem took inspiration from the ball, football history and culture, with the initials of the tournament abstracted into a circular icon.[217] The official audio featured Italian singer Gala's song "Freed from Desire".[218] On November 14, FIFA unveiled the new Club World Cup trophy.[219][220] On January 29, 2025, it was announced that FIFA Music Ambassador Robbie Williams would perform at the tournament, including a new song.[221]
Match ball
On January 31, 2025, the official match ball was revealed by Adidas. The design featured jagged-edged block patterns and deconstructed stars and stripes in red, white, and blue, the colors of the flag of the United States.[222] On July 7, the official match ball for the final was revealed. It featured the same design as the previous ball, but the red part was switched to gold. The ball was used for the tournament's last three matches; both semifinals and the final, all of which were held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.[223]
Music
Alongside Gala's "Freed from Desire", a remake of the Queen song "We Will Rock You" by American rapper Pitbull and producer RedOne served as one of the official songs of the tournament. Pitbull sang the 2014 FIFA World Cup official song, "We Are One (Ole Ola)", while RedOne produced the 2022 tournament's official album.[224]
The listening of "Freed from Desire" exploded during the tournament, with various Internet memes using the song being made in various social media platforms and Spotify announcing a rise of over 13% in daily average listening globally during late June 2025, including a boost YoY in some regions; as an example, in Brazil, the song had a rise of over 850% vs. the same period in 2024 and a 450% rise just in the first half of June 2025.[225][226][227]
Sponsorship
Reception
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Impact of added European fixtures
The proposed expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup drew criticism from several football stakeholders, including FIFPRO, a global union representing players from 66 associations, and the World Leagues Forum, which represents 24 professional leagues, both citing concerns about player welfare and fixture congestion.[249][8] La Liga also voiced opposition and threatened legal action.[250] Critics accused FIFA of prioritising commercial interests over player health.[251] The introduction of the annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup was similarly criticised.[252] In May 2024, FIFPRO and the World Leagues Forum sent a letter to FIFA demanding rescheduling and reform of the FIFA International Match Calendar and warned of legal or other action if their concerns were ignored.[252][253] On June 13, 2024, the English Professional Footballers' Association and France's Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels filed a legal claim in the Business Court in Brussels to protest the tournament.[254] FIFPRO also warned of potential strike action.[255] On January 30, 2025, a meeting between FIFA and FIFPRO was held to address fixture congestion.[256] In response to the criticism, FIFA stated that the Club World Cup's schedule followed the international calendar and allowed for rest before domestic competitions, adding that its events occupied just 1 percent of the football calendar and were agreed with players and confederations.[257][258]
Impact of multi-club ownership
Several clubs in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup were linked to multi-club ownership structures, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Among them were Mexican sides Pachuca and León, both owned by Grupo Pachuca. FIFA regulations prohibit any club from owning shares in, being a member of, or exerting influence over another participating club, with "influence" defined through control of voting rights or decision-making authority.[34] In November 2024, Costa Rican club Alajuelense requested FIFA to apply this rule and disqualify one of the two Grupo Pachuca clubs, threatening legal action if no action was taken.[259] Alajuelense argued that it was next in line to qualify under CONCACAF's rankings, but FIFA determined the club could not be party to proceedings.[260] On February 4, 2025, Alajuelense appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA, Pachuca, and León.[261] On March 21, FIFA announced that León had been removed from the tournament.[262] According to The Guardian, a play-off would determine the replacement between Los Angeles FC, runner-up of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, and América, the highest-ranked Mexican club not already qualified.[263] Alajuelense and Philadelphia Union were not considered. León appealed, and hearings for both its case and Alajuelense's took place in April and May 2025 respectively, but on May 6 FIFA confirmed that León's expulsion would stand and that the play-off would proceed.[264] LAFC secured the final spot with a 2–1 extra time win over América on May 31 at BMO Stadium.[265]
Ticket prices and attendance
Ticket prices for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup attracted early scrutiny from some fans, who noted that certain final seats were listed at over US$2,200 due to dynamic pricing models,[266] although FIFA later adjusted prices in February 2025, lowering them to around US$140 for the semifinals and US$300 for the final to make the tournament more accessible.[267] A 10 percent cancellation fee applied to exchanges also drew attention,[268] but the overall response to the tournament was positive. The opening fixture between Al Ahly and Inter Miami saw strong turnout following final-week promotional campaigns,[269] and FIFA reported over 60,000 spectators in attendance, with strong international broadcast figures.[270] By early July, FIFA had recorded over 2 million tickets sold and average attendance of approximately 36,000 per match,[271] a figure comparable to several leading European domestic leagues.[272] While 14 matches attracted smaller crowds of under 20,000, mostly at MLS venues, 11 fixtures surpassed 90 percent capacity, including six at Hard Rock Stadium.[272] Supporters from South America, Africa and Asia were especially prominent throughout the tournament,[273] although a match involving Wydad AC and Juventus saw minor incidents involving smoke bombs and one arrest.[274][275]
Selection of Inter Miami CF
As with previous editions of the FIFA Club World Cup, the expanded 2025 format allocated a slot for the host nation.[17] This slot had traditionally been filled by the domestic league champion of the host country. In the United States, the champion of Major League Soccer is determined through the MLS Cup playoffs, rather than regular season performance, and for the 2024 season, that playoff had not yet concluded at the time FIFA needed to confirm its selection.[276] During the mid-season 2024 MLS All-Star Game, MLS Commissioner Don Garber stated that the slot could be awarded to the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield winner, the MLS Cup 2024 winner, or via a playoff between the two.[277][278] On October 19, 2024, FIFA announced that Inter Miami CF would represent the host nation as winners of the Supporters' Shield, awarding the slot before the start of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs and after Inter Miami had already secured the Shield.[36] FIFA stated that this decision aligned with past precedent, where clubs that won silverware in a league-style format were prioritised for the host slot, and that the announcement had been delayed due to procedural timelines for confirming regulations.[279] Although the decision drew scrutiny from some sections of the media and fanbase, particularly regarding its timing and the involvement of Lionel Messi,[276][280] others viewed it as a practical resolution in keeping with the tournament's structure and historical practice. Inter Miami were later eliminated from the playoffs by Atlanta United FC in the first round on November 10,[281] but head coach Gerardo Martino defended the club's inclusion on the grounds that the Supporters' Shield constituted a valid and recognised form of domestic achievement.[282]
Immigration and visa issues
On June 10, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced their involvement in providing security during the first round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and reminded non-American citizens to carry valid proof of legal stay. The announcement raised concerns among some fans regarding the Trump administration's deportation policy, especially as those detained could potentially face indefinite detention or be transferred to other countries such as El Salvador.[283] FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the increased security presence, stating that the safety of fans was a top priority, particularly in light of the 2024 Copa América final, which was held in the same stadium and saw large numbers of supporters storm the gates to gain entry.[283] Just days later, on June 15, reports surfaced that Boca Juniors defender Ayrton Costa had initially been denied a US visa due to a 2018 robbery case, although the decision was subsequently reversed and he was issued a special 26-day visa to participate in the tournament.[284]
Rivalry between Europe and South America
The tournament intensified the rivalry between European teams and the rest of the world, in particular the South Americans.[285] Initially the debate involved how well the non-European teams would fare against the European teams; it then intensified when South American teams began to record victories against their European counterparts. Some South American managers, fans, and journalists also tried to dismiss European criticism of the tournament as "loser excuses" and a "symbol of European arrogance and elitism".[286] Commentators questioned whether European dominance had been overstated, with analysis suggesting that the myth of superiority was being tested by results on the pitch.[287][288] In response, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique remarked that South Americans had no need to compare themselves with Europeans, emphasising the shared global stature of both footballing regions and pointing to the widespread recruitment of South American players by European clubs.[289][290] Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola offered a more supportive view of South American competitiveness, arguing that European fans should not be surprised when clubs from the region secure wins and that such outcomes reflect the real global balance of quality in football.[291] The increased attention to Brazilian clubs also led to a sharp spike in global interest in the Brazilian League, with Google Trends reporting the highest search volume for the term since 2020.[292][293][294] While the performances reignited continental pride, the on-field results remained competitive; in twelve direct UEFA–CONMEBOL encounters, European clubs registered six wins, South American clubs won three times, and three matches ended in draws.[272][295]
See also
Notes
- As the AFC Champions League was shifted from an intra-year schedule to an inter-year schedule starting from 2023–24, only three seasons of the AFC Champions League were completed within the 2021 to 2024 timeframe, resulting in the remaining slot allocated using the four-year club ranking.[19]
- As the 2021 OFC Champions League was canceled, the slot was awarded to the best club in the OFC's four-year ranking that won the competition between 2022 and 2024.[19][20][21]
- However, the system was only applied over the four years, instead of the usual five, to the Champions League exclusively.
- Originally Club León was set to participate in the tournament as the winners of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League. On March 21, 2025, the team was removed from the competition due to violating the FIFA Appeal Committee's rules on multi-club ownership, as León and Pachuca have the same owner. On May 6, 2025, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected appeals by León, Pachuca, and Alajuelense. FIFA confirmed León's exclusion and that the winners of the play-in match between Los Angeles FC and América would qualify in this place in the Club World Cup.[26][27][28][29] On May 31, Los Angeles FC beat América 2–1 in extra time to claim the final tournament spot.
- For example if criteria a. to c. were applied to three teams that were level on points initially, and these criteria separated one team from the other two who still had an equal ranking.
- The match, originally scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT, was delayed to 3:10 pm EDT due to the late arrival of the team buses.
- Aruba, Barbados, Curaçao, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago
References
External links
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