The first edition of the updated FIFA Club World Cup kicks off in the United States on Sunday, bringing some of the most storied franchises on the planet right to our backyards.
The New York City area will play a prominent role in all of this, as MetLife Stadium will host five group-stage matches, a quarterfinal, a semifinal, and the final.
In total, 32 teams will compete in the month-long tournament, which begins with eight four-team groups going head-to-head across the country. The top two teams in each group will make the knockout stage, which shifts the Club World Cup into a single-elimination format until a champion is crowned.
Here is our comprehensive, team-by-team, group-by-group breakdown of soccer’s biggest tournament of the summer.
Group A
Palmeiras
- Country: Brazil
- How they qualified: 2021 Copa Libertadores winners
- Player to watch: Estevao Willian (winger)
Upon first glance, one might consider Porto to be the favorite of Group A, but it really is Palmeiras. The Sao Paulo-based club has been a model of consistent success in recent years, winning Brazil’s Serie A in 2022 and 2023, the Copa do Brasil in 2020, and the Copa Libertadores in 2020 and 2021. This is a versatile team, with head coach Abel Ferreria boasting that “we are good at everything.” Keep an eye on 18-year-old Estevao — the brilliant young winger who will be joining Chelsea at the end of the tournament.
FC Porto
- Country: Portugal
- How they qualified: No. 5 in UEFA’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Diogo Costa (goalkeeper)
Usually the titans of Portugal, Porto were anything but this season. They finished 11 points back of league champions Sporting, were poor in the Europa League having been knocked out in the Round of 32 by Roma, and did not reach a final in any of their domestic competitions. They need a strong showing in the United States to salvage their season.
Al Ahly
- Country: Egypt
- How they qualified: 2021 CAF Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Trezeguet (striker)
Don’t sleep on Egypt’s Al Ahly, who have made a knack of strong showings in the previous versions of this tournament. The 12-time African Champions League winners finished in third place at the Club World Cup four times in the last decade. Midfielder Emam Ashour and striker Wessam Abou Ali accounted for 35 goals this season, and more reinforcements have arrived with Egyptian internationals Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Trezeguet joining the fight. But there are some question marks. Jose Riveiro will take charge as manager for the first time in the competition’s opener against Miami after the team fired Marcel Koller, who was shown the door despite winning two league titles, two Egyptian Cups, and back-to-back CAF Champions Leagues.
Inter Miami
- Country: United States
- How they qualified: Host, 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners
- Player to watch: Lionel Messi (forward)
Put this under the no-brainer category, because, of course, Inter Miami’s hopes in this competition boil down to how the aging G.O.A.T. fares at the Club World Cup. His old Barcelona teammates, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, know what it takes to win on the biggest of stages, but defensive struggles have made Miami’s start to the 2025 campaign a difficult one. They sit in an underwhelming third place in the Eastern Conference and were ousted in the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Vancouver in the semifinals.
Schedule
- June 14: Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami
- June 15: Palmeiras vs. Porto (at MetLife Stadium)
- June 19: Palmieras vs. Al Ahly (at MetLife Stadium)
- June 19: Inter Miami vs. Porto
- June 23: Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras
- June 23: Porto vs. Al Ahly (at MetLife Stadium)
Group B
Paris Saint-Germain
- Country: France
- How they qualified: No. 2 in UEFA’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Desire Doue (midfielder)
PSG is not getting much time to enjoy their Champions League triumph, a 5-0 battering of Inter Milan, just two weeks ago. The Parisians are rife with attacking brilliance, whether it be Ousmane Dembele up front or the emerging 20-year-old superstar, Desire Doue, who scored twice and assisted once more in the Champions League Final. They are fast, with marauding fullbacks Nuno Mendes and the speedy Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi often joining in on the attack. All the while, Vitinha is the engine of the midfield who pulls most of the strings. An overwhelmingly great side that should make a deep run in this tournament.
Atletico Madrid
- Country: Spain
- How they qualified: No. 6 in UEFA’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Julian Alvarez (forward)
Atletico Madrid enter the Club World Cup with a sour taste in their mouth following a late-season collapse that saw their La Liga hopes go up in smoke. Their hopes rest upon the two-headed attack of Argentinian Julian Alvarez and Norwegian Alexander Sorloth, who combined for 37 league goals this season.
Botafogo
- Country: Brazil
- How they qualified: 2024 Copa Libertadores winners
- Player to watch: Santi Rodriguez (midfielder)
Following their Cinderella run to the 2024 Copa Libertadores, their best players were picked off in the transfer window by rival clubs, most notably top scorer Junior Santos going to Mineiro, captain Tche Tche heading to Vasco da Gama, and midfielder Thiago Almada joining French side Lyon. Rumors are swirling that star striker Igor Jesus and promising defender Jair Cunha could be headed to England to join Nottingham Forest, too. The ranks are thinning, but one player to keep an eye on is former NYCFC star Santi Rodriguez, who made the move from MLS earlier this year.
Seattle Sounders
- Country: United States
- How they qualified: 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Obed Vargas (midfielder)
The Sounders will be playing all of their games at their home stadium, Lumen Field, during the group stage, which will provide a nice advantage. That does not help their prospects of advancing from the group of death. While injuries have been prevalent, the Sounders have won just seven of their first 18 MLS games this season, good for sixth in the Western Conference.
Schedule
- June 15: PSG vs. Atletico Madrid
- June 15: Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders
- June 19: Seattle Sounders vs. Atletico Madrid
- June 19: PSG vs. Botafogo
- June 23: Seattle Sounders vs. PSG
- June 23: Atletico Madrid vs. Botafogo
Group C
Bayern Munich
- Country: Germany
- How they qualified: No. 1 in UEFA’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Harry Kane (forward)
The Bavarian giants are back on top in Germany after their 11-year reign was snapped last season at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen. Vincent Kompany restored order this year, and a star-studded roster that stresses possession will wear down their opposition with its onslaught of talent. As if the favorites needed any extra boost before the tournament, star midfielder Jamal Musiala is back in training after injury ended his Bundesliga campaign early.
Auckland City
- Country: Australia
- How they qualified: No. 1 in OFC four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Everyone
This is as big a Cinderella story as it gets — almost as though this is a non-league English club making a remarkable run in the FA Cup. But this feels even larger than that. Auckland City is a team of amateurs who balance soccer with school or day jobs, and will now be competing with three of the largest clubs in the world. You will not find many cooler stories in sports this year, and the hope is that they can hold their own at the Club World Cup and keep things respectable.
Boca Juniors
- Country: Argentina
- How they qualified: No. 2 in CONMEBOL four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Edinson Cavani (forward)
The most successful club in the history of Argentina has fallen on hard times as of late. After a loss in April to hated rivals River Plate, team president Juan Roman Riquelme sacked manager Fernando Gago and has turned to Miguel Angel Russo to right the ship. There has not been a ton of time to jell, meaning this could be a difficult tournament for the Argentinians. But the 38-year-old Uruguayan legend, Edinson Cavani, still has a bit left in the tank to produce some magic in the States.
Benfica
- Country: Portugal
- How they qualified: No. 7 in UEFA’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Vangelis Pavlidis
The 38-time champions of Portugal finished runners-up to Sporting this season, and then fell to those very same rivals in the Taça de Portugal Final. Pavlidis has been their star man since signing from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar last year, posting 29 goals.
Schedule
- June 15: Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City
- June 16: Boca Juniors vs. Benfica
- June 20: Benfica vs. Auckland City
- June 20: Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors
- June 24: Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors
- June 24: Benfica vs. Bayern Munich
Group D
Flamengo
- Country: Brazil
- How they qualified: 2022 Copa Libertadores winners
- Player to watch: Giorgian de Arrascaeta (forward)
The Rio de Janeiro club won the Supercopa do Brasil in February and followed it up with the Campeonato Carioca in March. They are through to the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores and sit atop the Brazilian table after 11 matches.
Esperance Sportive de Tunis
- Country: Tunisia
- How they qualified: No. 1 in CAF four-year ranking
- Plato watch: Yassine Meriah (defender)
There are dynasties, and then there is what Esperance Sportive de Tunis is doing in Tunisia, winning 21 of the previous 28 league titles. They completed the domestic treble this season, winning the league, Tunisian Cup, and Tunisian Super Cup. It’s not all roses for them, though, as the club has gone through four different managers this season.
Chelsea
- Country: England
- How they qualified: 2021 UEFA Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Cole Palmer (midfielder)
Chelsea is returning to the zenith of world soccer after a few disappointing seasons. They finished fourth in the Premier League to secure Champions League play next year, and picked up a trophy by winning the UEFA Conference League — becoming the first team ever to win every major European trophy. Enzo Maresca has the Blues playing a Pep Guardiola style of play, and it’s working well.
Los Angeles FC
- Country: United States
- How they qualified: Defeated Club America in qualification playoff
- Player to watch: Denis Bouanga (forward)
LAFC was the last team to get into the Club World Cup, and even with virtually no time to prepare, they will feel as though they have a chance to escape from Group D. They defend well, and have the firepower to score goals with pacey winger and Gabon international Denis Bouanga leading the charge. They also have the luxury of World Cup and Club World Cup winner Olivier Giroud as a potential poacher up front.
Schedule
- June 16: Chelsea vs. LAFC
- June 16: Flamengo vs. EST
- June 20: Flamengo vs. Chelsea
- June 20: LAFC vs. EST
- June 24: LAFC vs. Flamengo
- June 24: EST vs. Chelsea
Group E
River Plate
- Country: Argentina
- How they qualified: No. 1 in CONMEBOL four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Franco Mastantuono (winger)
Attractive Argentinian soccer is embodied by River Plate, which is coming together after making significant moves in the transfer window. Their names might not be household, but they are remarkably important. Goalkeeper Franco Armani was on Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad in 2022 and advised Emiliano Martinez in the quarterfinal and final penalty shootouts. Then, there is the young wunderkind, Franco Mastantuono — the 17-year-old winger who has already appeared for the national team and scored the game-winner in the Superclasico against Boca Juniors in April.
Urawa Red Diamonds
- Country: Japan
- How they qualified: 2022 AFC Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Ryoma Watanabe (midfielder)
Last year had been a year of transition for Urawa Red Diamonds, who finished in 13th in last season’s J1 campaign. But things are looking up; they are third in the league and just six points back of Kashima Antlers. The two-time Club World Cup semifinalists (2007, 2023) boast former Barcelona B-team product Hiroki Abe and Flamengo academy product Matheus Savio, but Watanabe has been the main man this year with six goals in 16 appearances.
Monterrey
- Country: Mexico
- How they qualified: 2021 CONCACAF Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Sergio Ramos (defender)
One of the most successful and big-spending teams of Mexico, Monterrey has collected numerous big names with past international success to create legitimate aspirations at the Club World Cup. The most recognizable of them is former Real Madrid stalwart, defender Sergio Ramos, who has been hampered by injuries and appeared in just nine matches. But Monterrey also boasts Sergio Canales (Real Madrid), Lucas Ocampos (Marseille, AC Milan, Sevilla), Oliver Torres (Atletico Madrid, Porto, Sevilla), and Jesus Corona (Porto, Sevilla) with significant European experience. But for all that experience, 20-year-old midfielder Iker Fimbres is believed to be the next star of the Mexican national team
Inter Milan
- Country: Italy
- How they qualified: No. 4 in UEFA’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Lautaro Martinez (forward)
This was supposed to be a historic year for Inter Milan. The Italian giants entered the home stretch of the 2024-25 campaign in April with a lead in Serie A and eyes on the Coppa Italia and the Champions League Final. They ran out of gas, losing the league to Napoli, the Coppa Italia in the semifinals to AC Milan, and then were smacked in the Champions League Final by PSG. Manager Simone Inzaghi left, taking a gig with fellow Club World Cup side Al Hilal. His departure forced Inter to scramble, settling on former player Christian Civu, who was given just about a week to get this team ready. Luckily, this is one of the best clubs in the world, and their overwhelming arsenal of talent makes them favorites.
Schedule
- June 17: River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds
- June 17: Monterrey vs. Inter Milan
- June 21: Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds
- June 21: River Plate vs. Monterrey
- June 25: Inter Milan vs. River Plate
- June 25: Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey
Group F
Fluminense
- Country: Brazil
- How they qualified: 2023 Copa Libertadores winners
- Player to watch: Thiago Silva (defender)
Renato Gaucho is back for a sixth stint as head coach of the Brazilian side, taking over in April. What he has is a team that can score, posting 26 goals in 17 matches across league and Copa Sudamericana play. They press high, get the fullbacks involved often, and like to come at you fast. At the heart of their defense is the veteran and former Brazilian captain Thiago Silva, who starred at AC Milan, PSG, and Chelsea.
Borussia Dortmund
- Country: Germany
- How they qualified: No. 3 in UEFA’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Jobe Bellingham (midfielder)
Dortmund was a Champions League finalist in 2023-24, but they fell flat this year, finishing fourth in the Bundesliga, crashing out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals, and getting thrown from the DFB-Pokal in the second round by Wolfsburg. Nuri Sahin was sacked in January, Niko Kovac came in and helped turn a corner, and now Dortmund hopes that they can finish this year with a flourish as the Group F favorites. They scored 44 goals in 20 matches under Kovac, and their ranks got a bit more intriguing with the signing of the promising 19-year-old Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland.
Ulsan HD
- Country: South Korea
- How they qualified: No. 1 in AFC’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Matias Lacava (winger)
Ulsan’s reign of three straight Korean titles looks to be coming to an end this season. They will be anchored by veteran center back Kim Young-gwon and former Barcelona and Lazio academy product Matias Lacava.
Mamelodi Sundowns
- Country: South Africa
- How they qualified: No. 2 in CAF’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Arthur Sales (forward)
The eight-time defending South African champions have a number of national-team veteran stars, like midfielder Themba Zwane, but their big-time playmaker is the Brazilian, Arthur Sales. The 22-year-old recorded eight goals and eight assists in 19 league games and is seen as a dynamic playmaker who could garner some serious attention at the Club World Cup.
Schedule
- June 17: Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund (at MetLife Stadium)
- June 17: Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns
- June 21: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund
- June 21: Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD (at MetLife Stadium)
- June 25: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD
- June 25: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense
Group G
Manchester City
- Country: England
- How they qualified: 2023 UEFA Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Erling Haaland (forward)
This is not the same dominant Manchester City of years past. Pep Guardiola’s men stumbled in 2024-25, finishing third in the Premier League after winning it six times in the previous seven years. The Kevin De Bruyne era is over, but City still boasts the reigning Ballon d’Or winner in midfielder Rodri and has one of the best pure goal poachers in the game in Haaland. They are going to be one of the favorites to win it all despite the down year.
Wydad
- Country: Morocco
- How they qualified: 2022 CAF Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Mohamed Rayhi (winger)
The Moroccan giants had to work out some major kinks this season, which largely stemmed from former coach Rhulani Mokwena moving away from the team’s direct style of play. He was fired in April, and Mohamed Amine Benhachem has tried to restore order, though this will be a difficult thing to do in a group containing Man City and Juventus.
Al Ain
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- How they qualified: 2024 AFC Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Soufiane Rahimi (forward)
The Argentinian great Hernan Crespo did not last a year as manager of Al Ain, despite winning the CAF Champions League, thanks to a slow start this season. Former Watford manager Vladimir Ivic has them moving up the UAE Pro League table, and they sit in fifth. Soufiane Rahimi was the top scorer at the 2024 Olympics for Morocco and became the first player to score in six straight Olympic matches.
Juventus
- Country: Italy
- How they qualified: No. 8 in UEFA’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Kenan Yildiz (forward)
It has been five years since Juventus’ dominant run of nine straight Serie A titles ended, and it has felt like they’ve been in flux ever since. They fired manager Thiago Motta in March and the managing director of football, Cristiano Giuntoli, after finishing fourth in Italy. New manager Igor Tudor has done well to make the Old Lady a bit more aggressive, but there is still significant work to do.
Schedule
- June 18: Manchester City vs. Wydad
- June 18: Al Ain vs. Juventus
- June 22: Juventus vs. Wydad
- June 22: Manchester City vs. Al Ain
- June 26: Juventus vs. Manchester City
- June 26: Wydad vs. Al Ain
Group H
Real Madrid
- Country: Spain
- How they qualified: 2022 UEFA Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Kylian Mbappe (forward)
No major trophies this season have led to the departure of Carlo Ancelotti, who is off to manage the Brazilian national team, for Xabi Alonso. Don’t let that fool you, Real Madrid is going to dominate for most of this tournament. Kylian Mbappe is still amongst the best players on the planet, alongside Vinicius Jr., and they have already bolstered their defense with the signings of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth and Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool. They have made it painfully clear, too, that they want to win this tournament.
Al Hilal
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- How they qualified: 2021 AFC Champions League winners
- Player to watch: TBD
Why did we put TBD under the player to watch section? Because Al Hilal spends a ridiculous amount of money and wants to do just that ahead of the Club World Cup. They are already responsible for four of the seven highest transfer fees ever and were recently denied when making a move for Manchester United star, Bruno Fernandes. Rumors have flown that they are also in talks with former Chelsea great N’Golo Kante. They have lured former Premier Leaguers Ruben Neves, João Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Aleksander Mitrovic, and they are now being led by Simone Inzaghi, who made the jump from Inter Milan’s bench to Saudi Arabia earlier than expected.
Pachuca
- Country: Mexico
- How they qualified: 2024 CONCACAF Champions League winners
- Player to watch: Salomon Rondon (forward)
Manager Jaime Lozano has only been in charge for a few weeks, but expectations in Mexico are that Pachuca should challenge for a second-place finish in this group. Salomon Rondon is the talisman, even at 35 years old. The former Newcastle United talent was Pachuca’s leading scorer in their run to the CONCACAF Champions League with nine goals in seven matches.
RB Salzburg
- Country: Austria
- How they qualified: No. 9 in UEFA’s four-year ranking
- Player to watch: Oscar Gloukh (forward)
Salzburg is here on a technicality, thanks to the Club World Cup’s rule that allows a maximum of two teams from European countries. This rule has left some major teams, including Barcelona, Liverpool, and Arsenal, on the outside looking in.
Schedule
- June 18: Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal
- June 18: Pachuca vs. RB Salzburg
- June 22: Real Madrid vs. Pachuca
- June 22: RB Salzburg vs. Al Hilal
- June 26: Al Hilal vs. Pachuca
- June 26: RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid
For more on the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, visit AMNY.com
Also Read: https://www.amny.com/sports/knicks-head-coach-search-rbs-6-11-25/
