MIAMI — The FIFA Club World Cup may be a summer away, but excitement for the tournament reached new heights this week.
Even President-elect Donald Trump shared his enthusiasm with a video statement during Thursday’s group draw for the 32-team tournament feature some of the best soccer teams from around the world.
“The event is going to be incredible. I will try to be there. If I can, I would. We’ll see what happens,” Trump said before praising FIFA president Gianni Infantino. “But I just want to say you’re led by Gianni. He’s a winner. He’s the President, and I’m the President. And we’ve known each other for a long time.
“Soccer is going through the roof in America, as everybody knows,” Trump added. “It’s doing fantastically well.”
Lionel Messi’s presence with Inter Miami and Major League Soccer has surely helped.
Messi and Inter Miami will play the Club World Cup opening game against Egyptian powerhouse Al Alhy in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on June 15, 2025. They’re joined by Brazilian side Palmeiras and Portuguese side Porto in Group A of the tournament.
“It’s fantastic to be able to open the Club World Cup here in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, and show the world what Lionel Messi has done which is not only change this sport in American, but change the perception of American soccer around the world,” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said.
“The eyes of the world will be here, and hundreds of millions of people will watch that game. It’s a great challenge but a great opportunity for us.”
Paris Saint-Germain (France) and Atletico Madrid (Spain) lead Group B, where the Seattle Sounders will open against Brazilian side Botafogo at Lumen Field in Seattle. The Sounders, the second MLS team in the field, qualified after winning the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup.
“You’re looking at how you’re going to grow the game of football in the U.S. That’s the important thing,” said baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr., who is part of the Sounders’ ownership group.
Among other teams in the field: Bayern Munich (Germany) leads Group C, Chelsea (England) will be featured in Group D, Inter Milan (Italy) headlines Group E, Borussia Dortmund (Germany) is in Group F.
Manchester City (England) and Juventus (Italy) headline Group G, while Real Madrid (Spain) and Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) will be a must-watch opener in Group H.
Each group will play three matches during the group stage. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.
“It’s about inclusivity, it’s about bringing clubs from all over the world, the 32 best clubs and best players from all over the world together,” Infantino said.
Including Messi and Inter Miami, however, did not come without some controversy.
Inter Miami was selected by FIFA last month as the host nation after winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield, the regular-season title, this season.
While the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will play for the MLS Cup title on Saturday, MLS commissioner Don Garber had no problem with Inter Miami joining Seattle in the tournament. He also had no part in FIFA’s decision.
“There was no rule that said the MLS Cup winner had to be in the Club World Cup,” Garber said. “I have no interest in anything other than what I think is going to be best for this showcase, best for our league. I am supportive of the decision FIFA made, and I’m excited to put Miami and Seattle in a global media deal that’ll be seen around the world.”
FIFA Club World Cup group draw
Group A
A1: Palmeiras (Brazil) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
A2: Porto (Portugal) – UEFA ranking pathway
A3: Al Ahly (Egypt) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
A4: Inter Miami (USA) – FIFA host nation
Group B
B1: Paris Saint-Germain (France) – UEFA ranking pathway
B2: Atletico Madrid (Spain) – UEFA ranking pathway
B3: Botafogo (Brazil) – 2024 Conmebol winners
B4: Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
Group C:
C1: Bayern Munich (Germany) – UEFA ranking pathway
C2: Auckland City (New Zealand) – OFC ranking pathway
C3: Boca Juniors (Argentina) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
C4: Benfica (Portugal) – UEFA ranking pathway
Group D:
D1: Flamengo (Brazil) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
D2: ES Tunis (Tunisia) – CAF ranking pathway
D3: Chelsea (England) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
D4: Club Leon (Mexico) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup
Group E:
E1: River Plate (Argentina) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
E2: Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) – 2022 AFC Champions League
E3: Monterrey (Mexico) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
E4: Inter Milan (Italy) – UEFA ranking pathway
Group F:
F1: Fluminense (Brazil) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
F2: Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – UEFA ranking pathway
F3: Ulsan HD FC (South Korea) – AFC ranking pathway
F4: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – CAF ranking pathway
Group G:
G1: Manchester City (England) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
G2: Wydad (Morocco) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
G3: Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League
G4: Juventus (Italy) – UEFA ranking pathway
Group H:
H1: Real Madrid (Spain) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
H2: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – 2021 AFC Champions League
H3: Pachuca (Mexico) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
H4: FC Salzburg (Austria) – UEFA ranking pathway
Club World Cup will be available to live stream for free on DAZN
FIFA announced Wednesday the Club World Cup will be available to live stream entirely for free on DAZN.
Club World Cup stadiums: Where will games be played?
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
Lumen Field (Seattle)
MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
TQL Stadium (Cincinnati)
Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles)
GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tennessee)
Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
Which teams are playing in the Club World Cup?
There are 12 UEFA teams from Europe, six Conmebol teams from South American, four Concacaf teams from North America, four Asian Football Confederation teams, four Confederation of African Football teams, one team from the Oceania Football Confederation and the host team.
Here are the teams, and how they qualified:
CONCACAF: North America, Central America and the Caribbean
Monterrey (Mexico) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
Club Leon (Mexico) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup
Pachuca (Mexico) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
Inter Miami (USA) – 2025 Club World Cup host slot
CONMEBOL: South America
Palmeiras (Brazil) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Flamengo (Brazil) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Fluminense (Brazil) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
River Plate (Argentina) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Boca Juniors (Argentina) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Botafogo (Brazil) – 2024 Conmebol winners
UEFA: Union of European Football Associations
Chelsea (England) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid (Spain) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
Manchester City (England) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich (Germany) – UEFA ranking pathway
Paris Saint-Germain (France) – UEFA ranking pathway
Inter Milan (Italy) – UEFA ranking pathway
Porto (Portugal) – UEFA ranking pathway
Benfica (Portugal) – UEFA ranking pathway
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – UEFA ranking pathway
Juventus (Italy) – UEFA ranking pathway
Atletico Madrid (Spain) – UEFA ranking pathway
FC Salzburg (Austria) – UEFA ranking pathway
AFC: Asian Football Confederation
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – 2021 AFC Champions League
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) – 2022 AFC Champions League
Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League
Ulsan HD FC (South Korea) – AFC ranking pathway
CAF: Confederation of African Football
Al Ahly (Egypt) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
Wydad (Morocco) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
ES Tunis (Tunisia) – CAF ranking pathway
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – CAF ranking pathway
OFC: Oceania Football Confederation
Auckland City (New Zealand) – OFC ranking pathway
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