2025 Club World Cup: What to know about all 32 teams
After months of hype, pomp and circumstance, it's finally here! The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off this weekend across the U.S., with the opener on Saturday night in Miami as Inter Miami CF host Al Ahly to get things underway.
The 10-day transfer window designed to help CWC participants staff up for action has closed, with several new stars set to debut for Real Madrid (Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Hujisen), Manchester City (Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki) and Chelsea (Liam Delap), and the action comes thick and fast, with 63 games over the next month.
While the field is loaded with European superpowers like Madrid, City, Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan, all the world's top clubs on other continents are also taking part, from Argentinian duo Boca Juniors and River Plate to Brazil's Botafogo, winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores, and Al Ahly, the 10-time Club World Cup participants from Egypt.
So, ahead of the action, consider this your handy guide to all the teams, how they got here, and what we think we'll do in this competition.
Al Ahly
Where they play: Egyptian Premier League
How they qualified for Club World Cup: Winners of 2020-21 CAF Champions League
What is their Club World Cup goal? As 12-time African champions and CAF's African Club of the 20th Century, Al Ahly are used to being the "big fish" in Egypt and Africa. They go into every tournament aiming for silverware.
They have almost 120 years of history, however, the hard realities of talent and resources mean they might struggle in reaching the tournament's knockout rounds.
Though they might not have the individual talent of Palmeiras' Estevao, FC Porto's Samu Aghehowa, or (of course) Inter Miami's Lionel Messi in Group A, they have extensive experience navigating major tournaments, and Zizo, Mahmoud Trézéguet and Achraf Bencharki should allow them to pack a punch.
Incoming head coach Jose Riveiro, who made South African giants Orlando Pirates competitive again with an attractive front-foot style, has identified a berth in the round of 16 as Al Ahly's tournament objective.
Fun fact you need to know: Ahly were once a strong local symbol of resistance against the British during the colonization of Egypt.
A century later, the club's supporters, the Ultras Ahlawy, played a role in the escalation of the Egyptian revolution and notably, the Tahrir Square demonstrations that led to the end of President Hosni Mubarak's reign.
If Ahly can play spoilers when they face Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in Florida in the tournament opener Saturday night, it could set them up for surprise progression to the knockouts.
Inter Miami CF
What is their Club World Cup goal? Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas set the goal for Inter Miami at the Club World Cup: qualify for the knockout rounds.
If they can pull it off, the tournament could be a success for ownership.
Coach Javier Mascherano is opting for a more realistic approach, admitting the level they are set to face at the Club World Cup will be higher than any Concacaf Champions Cup or MLS game.
Mascherano insists the roster depth is not where it should be entering the tournament, but the team will fight in every game.
Expectations are high for any team with Messi, but the target for Inter Miami will be to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Fun fact you need to know: Inter Miami is the youngest team to compete in the tournament after debuting in Major League Soccer during the 2020 season.
Inter Miami will fight to finish the group stage in second place and qualify for the knockout rounds.
The match against Palmeiras might be the biggest struggle, though you'd be foolish to bet against Messi and Luis Suárez in tournament play.
Palmeiras
What is their Club World Cup goal? Fans of rival clubs often taunt Palmeiras about never winning the Intercontinental title, which is often compared with a world championship in South America. This new tournament is an ideal opportunity to silence the critics.
However it goes, Palmeiras will not fail for a lack of ambition or intelligence. Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira reminds some of a young Jose Mourinho in terms of touchline tactics and, more importantly, coming up with a winning plan.
Recognizing the importance of the occasion, the club has given him plenty of attacking players.
Striker Vitor Roque is the most expensive player a Brazilian club has ever signed, Uruguayan playmaker Facundo Torres is from MLS, and wunderkind Estevao will join Chelsea after the competition. Palmeiras are dreaming of going all the way.
Fun fact you need to know: The club of São Paulo's large Italian community, Palmeiras were originally called "Palestra Italia." After World War II, they took on the more tropical name of "palm trees."
With Palmeiras boasting a strong squad and a bright coach, it would be unwise to overlook them. A key question: Will Ferreira be too cautious in the tight games? Anything less than the quarterfinals would be a major disappointment.
Porto
What is their Club World Cup goal? FC Porto finished third in the Primeira Liga for the second straight season, which is a disaster.
Not only does that mean lost Champions League revenue for 24 months, but any year they finish last among the trio of competitors that also includes Benfica and Sporting CP is a problem.
They'll likely see this tournament as an opportunity for redemption. "You can expect a confident and strong FC Porto," midfielder Fabio Vieira said this week. "We see it as a chance to close the season in the best possible way."
Vieira is on loan from Arsenal but has had his contract extended into July to play the entire tournament, if required, plus the club has signed Gabri Veiga from Al Ahli for €15 million in time to be registered. These movements back up the idea that the Dragões are in it to win it.
Fun fact you need to know: Porto's fearsome stadium, the Dragão, was built as part of Portugal's bid to host Euro 2004.
It opened in 2003 with an inaugural match against Barcelona, in which Lionel Messi made his first appearance.
Porto landed in Group A and will believe they can win it; beating Palmeiras, Inter Miami and Al Ahly is a realistic goal.
However, the likelihood of running into PSG or Atlético Madrid in the round of 16 means they might not get much furth.
Atletico Madrid
What is their Club World Cup goal? Being at this tournament is significant for Atletico.
They're here -- qualifying based on consistent Champions League performances since 2021 -- alongside Real Madrid, and Barcelona aren't, and that means something.
And just like Real Madrid, they're looking to make up for a disappointing end to the season, when their LaLiga title challenge slipped away after being controversially eliminated from the UCL by their local rivals.
Atletico don't have any exciting new signings to show off, but they do have some players, like Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sorloth, who ended the season in sensational form. (Sorloth scored seven goals in his last four LaLiga games, finally earning a place in the starting XI).
Atletico's group isn't straightforward, although they did -- somehow -- beat PSG when they met back in November. Here, they'll expect to reach the knockout stage, and see what happens from there.
Fun fact you need to know: Diego Simeone is the longest-serving manager in LaLiga, having been in charge of Atletico since December 2011. He's their most successful coach ever, too, with eight trophies in that time.
They'll progress from the group, and win their round of 16 game too. But the quarterfinals -- where they could meet Bayern Munich or Chelsea -- might be a step too far.
Paris Saint-Germain
What is their Club World Cup goal? To back up being crowned champions of Europe by earning the tag of world champions.
PSG's incredible second half of the season, culminating in their 5-0 demolition of Inter in the Champions League final, will heighten the spotlight ahead of the Club World Cup.
If the tournament plays out as most expect then a team from UEFA will win and, currently, PSG are UEFA's best team.
It was noteworthy that immediately after the Champions League final in Munich, the message from club chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi was that they were heading to the U.S. to win.
If they manage to find the energy to play in the same way they did in the Champions League knock-out rounds, there's no reason to think they won't.
Fun fact you need to know: This will be PSG's first appearance at the Club World Cup.
Group B is probably the toughest with PSG, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and Seattle Sounders, but as reigning European champions they won't fear anyone. Anything less than the semifinals will be a disappointment.
Seatle Sounders FC
What is their Club World Cup goal? Simply put: To not embarrass themselves. That might seem like an exceptionally low bar, but when you consider that their easiest opponents in the group stage are Botafogo --- the current title-holders of the Copa Libertadores --- no team has a more difficult set of opening matches than the Seattle Sounders.
Sure, they'll have an edge in home field advantage, and we also shouldn't rule out a possible game-defining moment or two from playmaker/goalscorer Albert Rusnák, but the ambitions here will be to look competitive and avoid one-sided defeats.
Fun fact you need to know: The first pair of brothers to not only suit up in an MLS match for the Sounders, but also for MLS' All-Star team?
That's the Roldan brothers, Alex and Cristian, who also represent separate national teams (El Salvador, U.S., respectively).
They'll achieve their goal of not getting thrashed at home, but it's difficult to see them surviving beyond the group stage --- especially with the added setback of ongoing injury worries for key players.
Auckland City
What is their Club World Cup goal? Given their status as powerhouses of Oceania, Auckland City have actually qualified for the Club World Cup on 12 previous occasions but plenty of those appearances have seen them fall in the playoffs even before the quarterfinals -- though they did reach the last four in 2014.
They will simply be looking to give a positive account of themselves, as well as New Zealand and Oceania football, and will only gain from the experience of taking on teams like Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors.
Fun fact you need to know: Auckland City will be the only amateur outfit at the tournament, with their players working day jobs and training just three to four times a week during the regular season.
The odds are stacked firmly against them but they really have nothing to lose. Three David vs. Goliath battles lie ahead and there will definitely be no shortage of neutral rooting for their endearing underdog story.
Bayern Munich
What is their Club World Cup goal? Like most of the big UEFA teams, Bayern Munich are here to win.
Having won back the Bundesliga title from Bayer Leverkusen, the goal will be to show everyone that they remain among the best teams in the world.
Regular quarterfinalists in the Champions League and with one of the strongest squads in the tournament, Vincent Kompany and his team will fancy their chances of getting to the latter rounds.
Once there, just like in the Champions League, anything can happen.
Fun fact you need to know: No team in Europe's top-five leagues have won more consecutive domestic titles than Bayern's 11 in a row between 2013 and 2023.
Bayern should win Group C with ease. Their potential quarterfinal opponent will come from Group B -- either PSG or Atletico -- which could end up being their first serious test of their tournament.
Benfica
What is their Club World Cup goal? For the second year in a row, Benfica lost the Portuguese title race to fierce cross-city rivals Sporting CP.
Agonisingly, the gap between the two clubs was just two points in the end.
As such, the Club World Cup will now serve as the ideal distraction for The Eagles, who can put domestic disappointment behind them quickly with a strong showing on the global stage.
They've managed to keep Real Madrid target Álvaro Carreras for at least the duration of this tournament, and who knows? Perhaps some good performances will enhance any eventual transfer fee.
Fun fact you need to know: In February 2025, Benfica hit the 400,000 mark for "socios" (members), the first sports club in the world to reach such a milestone.
Benfica were drawn into Group C alongside Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors and Auckland City, which might just be the most interesting cluster of teams this competition has.
Boca pose a serious threat to the assumption The Eagles will finish second behind Bayern, and if they do stave off that threat, it only gets tougher from there.
Chelsea
What is their Club World Cup goal? For Chelsea, this tournament is all about momentum.
At one stage last season they were considered genuine (though tentative) title challengers, only to fall away during a poor spell in the middle of the campaign.
It led to questions about manager Enzo Maresca's job, but Chelsea recovered to finish strongly to qualify for the Champions League and win the UEFA Conference League.
Maresca will want to build on the feel-good factor in the U.S. and put himself in a position to take another step forward next season.
Chelsea are probably outside the group of UEFA teams who will feel they've got a chance to win it, but that doesn't mean they can't have a positive experience.
Fun fact you need to know: Chelsea are the last UEFA team to lose a Club World Cup final, beaten 1-0 by Corinthians in 2012.
As the only UEFA team in Group D they should make it to the knockout rounds, though Flamengo will pose a threat with the tournament coming in the middle of the Brazilian domestic season. Making the quarterfinals should be the goal.
Esperance de Tunis
How they qualified for Club World Cup: Best-ranked eligible team in the CAF four-year ranking
What is their Club World Cup goal? The third proud, historic North African establishment to qualify for this competition, and one backed by legions of passionate and hungry supporters, Esperance are approaching the tournament with expectations that might not quite match up with their reality.
Preparation has been strong, notably winning the Tunisian Cup and then succeeding in retaining national team players who would have been called up for the June internationals in order to dedicate all resources and attention to their opener against Flamengo.
However, this fixture could be a reality check, with the Brazilian giants currently leading Serie A and in fine fettle under Filipe Luis.
The North Africans will expect to beat Los Angeles FC, although Chelsea will be ominous opponents as they arrive off the back of their UEFA Conference League success.
Esperance are certainly taking this tournament seriously -- they've even released a new kit to celebrate their participation -- but will it be enough?
Fun fact you need to know: The young cartoon boy on the Esperance logo certainly gives the club a unique visual brand identity.
His name is Oulidha, team mascot and supporter #1919 (the year of the club's foundation).
He's intended to represent the team's fanbase, and has become a key element of Esperance's iconography as they expand their commercial footprint.
Algeria veteran Youcef Belaïli and his international teammate Mohamed Amine Tougai are fine talents, and Esperance won't be swatted aside easily.
However, despite entering the CWC on the back of a domestic double, this team isn't the level of the side that won back-to-back Champions Leagues in 2018 and 2019, or the treble-winners of 2011, and their opener against such an in-form and goal-hungry Flamengo side may set the tone for an underwhelming campaign.
Inter Milan
How they qualified for Club World Cup: Fourth-best-ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking
What is their Club World Cup goal? To win it. The UEFA Champions League final against PSG might have been a step too far, but this remains a talented and experienced squad that enters every tournament expecting success.
Their experience also adds another layer to this trophy chase because for players such as Francesco Acerbi (37) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (36), the silverware window is closing rapidly.
It could be now or never.
Inter are one of two European teams (the other Real Madrid) that will debut a new manager at the tournament, as Cristian Chivu takes the reins after Simone Inzaghi's departure to Al Hilal.
Will this breathe fresh air into the team at just the right time, or throw a wrench in the works?
Fun fact you need to know: In 2003, Inter's legendary cast of players, which included Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and more, recorded an incredible rendition of the song "Pazza Inter Amala." Check out Hernán Crespo's pipes!
Much will depend on their intensity at this stage of the year after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. But on paper, Inter are one of the strongest eight teams heading to the Club World Cup and should set a minimum aim of reaching the quarterfinals.
But the managerial situation has clouded their preparation, while River Plate, Monterrey and Urawa Red Diamonds will prove a challenge. The Nerazzurri could be on upset alert.
List of qualified teams for 2025 Club World Cup
Europe
Manchester City
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Bayern Munich
Paris Saint-Germain
Inter Milan
Porto
Benfica
Borussia Dortmund
Juventus
Red Ball Salzburg
Atletico Madrid
Oceania
Auckland City
South America
Palmeiras
Flamengo
Fluminense
River Plate
Boca Juniors
Botafogo (Copa Libertadores winner)
North America
Monterrey
Seattle Sounders
Pachuca
Inter Miami (host nation slot)
Los Angeles FC
Africa
Al Ahly
Wydad
Esperance de Tunis
Mamelodi Sundowns
Asia
Al Hilal
Urawa Red Diamonds
Al Ain
Ulsan HD
