The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the United States, scheduled from June 15 to July 13, represents a major expansion for the tournament, moving to a 32-team format.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced this change in December 2022, aiming to include more teams from around the world. However, the expansion has been criticized by players’ unions and professional leagues, fearing that the increased number of matches will add to an already busy schedule.
READ MORE
++ Previous times the Olympics were played in Paris
++ Pelé, Neymar, Ronaldinho and other Brazilian legends who won the Libertadores
++ Days and times for the round of 16 of the Libertadores and the playoffs of the Sudamericana
Despite the controversy around its format and timing, the tournament will proceed with teams from across the globe. The hosting of the event by the United States is seen as progress in promoting football in a country where interest in the sport is growing.
The competition will also serve as a pioneer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, also in the United States.
Here is a list of the teams that have qualified for the tournament, their method of qualification, and the date on which they secured their place:
AFC – Asian Football Confederation (4 places):
- Al-Hilal: Winners of the 2021 AFC Champions League (Qualified on March 14, 2023)
- Urawa Red Diamonds: 2022 AFC Champions League Winners (Qualified on May 6, 2023)
- TBD: 2023-24 AFC Champions League winners
- TBD: Top eligible team in the AFC 4-year rankings
CAF – Confederation of African Football (4 places):
- Al Ahly: Winners of the CAF Champions League 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 (Qualified on March 14, 2023)
- Wydad Casablanca: Winners of the 2021-2022 CAF Champions League (Qualified on March 14, 2023)
- TBD: 2023-2024 CAF Champions League Winners
- To be determined: Best eligible team in the CAF 4-year rankings
CONCACAF (4 places):
- Monterrey: 2021 CONCACAF Champions League Winners (Qualified March 14, 2023)
- Seattle Sounders FC: 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Winners (Qualified March 14, 2023)
- León: Winners of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League (Qualified on June 4, 2023)
- TBD: 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup Winners
CONMEBOL (6 places):
- Palmeiras: Winners of the Copa Libertadores 2021 (Qualified on March 14, 2023)
- Flamengo: Winners of the Copa Libertadores 2022 (Qualified on March 14, 2023)
- Fluminense: Winners of the Copa Libertadores 2023 (Qualified on November 4, 2023)
- TBD: Copa Libertadores 2024 winners
- TBD: Best eligible team in the CONMEBOL 4-year rankings
- To be determined: Second best eligible team in the 4-year rankings
OFC – Oceanian Football Confederation (1 place):
- Auckland City: Top OFC Champions League winners in the OFC 4-year rankings (Qualified on December 17, 2023)
UEFA (12 places):
- Chelsea: Winners of the 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League (Qualified on March 14, 2023)
- Real Madrid: Winners of the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League (Qualified on March 14, 2023)
- Manchester City: Winners of the UEFA Champions League 2022-2023 (Qualified on June 10, 2023)
- TBD: 2023-24 UEFA Champions League Winners
- Bayern Munich: UEFA 4-year ranking (Qualified on December 17, 2023)
- Paris Saint-Germain: UEFA quadrennial ranking (Qualified on December 17, 2023)
- Inter Milan: UEFA 4-year ranking (Qualified on December 17, 2023)
- Porto: UEFA 4-year ranking (Qualified on December 17, 2023)
- Benfica: UEFA 4-year ranking (Qualified on December 17, 2023)
- Borussia Dortmund: UEFA 4-year ranking (Qualified on March 6, 2024)
- To be determined: UEFA 4-year rankings
- To be determined: UEFA 4-year rankings
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Binge the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
