The draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has been finalized and all 32 participants now know their fate for next summer’s group stage in the United States.
The expanded and revamped tournament has understandably divided opinion among supporters, many of whom are already tired of the relentlessness of the club football calendar. However, when the competition kicks off next June, eyes will no doubt be on North America.
The group stage draw has staged some exciting duels as a number of clubs from all six continental confederations prepare to earn world champion status. Many of the matches in the tournament have never been witnessed before.
Here are the six most interesting games of the Club World Cup 2025 group stage – ranked.
Next summer’s Club World Cup is off to a cracker. Inter Miami may only be in the competition as hosts, but they are one of North America’s top teams, led by eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and supported by fellow veterans and former Barcelona fans Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez .
All eyes will no doubt be on the Herons’ diminutive Argentine, but reigning African Champions League holders Al Ahli have plenty of experience in this competition. The Egyptian giants are making their tenth appearance having won CAF’s most prestigious award in three of the last four seasons.
These two European foes lock horns for the first time in the 2024/25 league stage Champions Leaguewith a 93rd minute try from super sub Angel Correa securing a comeback win for the Spanish side. This may not have the glamor of intercontinental battles, but it will be one of the more quality encounters in the group stage.
It will be the first game for both teams in Group B, with reigning Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo and 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners Seattle Sounders watching with keen interest.
Chelsea they have faced opposition to Brazil twice before (outside of friendlies) but never dueled with Flamengo. The Blues will be among the favorites for the tournament in the United States, with games against Mexican side Leon and Tunisian side ES Tunis sandwiched between a strong clash with one of the South American giants.
Flamengo have made regular appearances at the Club World Cup in recent years, reaching the final of the competition in 2019. They struggled against English rivals on that occasion, losing 1-0 to Liverpool after extra time. It’s the closest they’ve come to the crown.
Juventus and Manchester City they have met six times since the first meeting in 1976 in the UEFA Cup, but the Italian giants have not met English powerhouses since 2015. Two Champions League group stage matches ended in Juve’s favour.
However, it will be Manchester City who boast the favorites when these two meet in the Club World Cup. The Cityzens won the trophy in 2023 in their only appearance, with Juventus having never taken the field in the competition. It will be another high quality affair between the European heavyweights.
Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors have never competed in the Club World Cup, but clashed in the 2001 Intercontinental Cup. An event originally held from 1960 to 2004, it would pit the winners of the Champions League/European Cup against the champions of Copa Libertadores in a duel.
Argentine giants Boca were the reigning champions when they faced Bayern in 2001, but it was the German side who triumphed thanks to centre-back Samuel Kafur’s extra-time effort.
The gap between these two giants is wider now than it was at the turn of the century, but next summer’s showdown should be just as dramatic.
You don’t have to dig too deep into the record books to find the last and only meeting between them Real Madrid and Al Hilal. The two met at the 2022 Club World Cup (which actually took place in February 2023) in Morocco and played out a thriller in the final.
The Spanish side triumphed for a record fifth time in the competition as they beat their Saudi rivals 5-3, with Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior both netting in a thrilling affair. Despite the score, Madrid never lost control of a high-scoring game.
More of the same would be welcome next summer, with Al Hilal currently boasting Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and, of course, Neymar in their squad.
