It’s club football in June and July. Forget everything you thought you knew. In one of the most radical overhauls in recent football history, FIFA is launching its first-ever 32-team Club World Cup in the US, running from 14th June to 13th July 2025.
One year out from the US‑Mexico‑Canada World Cup, the excitement is already building stateside. A total of 11 cities – from Miami Gardens to New Jersey – will host the tournament’s 12 venues.
Carrying the torch for Irish fans craving international club drama, this tournament brings you the globe’s best under one roof – and it’s right around the corner.
In a summer normally reserved for pre-season tours, transfer sagas and international friendlies, the months of June and July will instead deliver one of the boldest experiments in modern football history. For the first time, the FIFA Club World Cup expands from a modest seven-team tournament to a full-blown 32-team extravaganza, drawing champions and giants from every corner of the globe.
The 2025 edition isn’t just a logistical leap – it’s also a cultural one. It’s a chance for global club football to transplant its rivalries and romance onto American soil in a format that mimics the World Cup itself. For Irish fans, many of whom have loyalties across Europe’s and Argentina’s top clubs, and a growing interest in football’s global dimensions, this is a spectacle not to be missed.
There will be no Republic of Ireland team involved, of course, but with English giants such as Manchester City and Chelsea, European aristocrats such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, and South American heavyweights Flamengo and Palmeiras in the mix, there are more than enough narratives to sink your teeth into.
Here’s what you need to know.
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How does the Club World Cup work?
Until now, the FIFA Club World Cup was largely an afterthought, a December competition that saw the Champions League winner often brush aside rivals from Asia, Africa or South America. Often hosted in the Middle East, the tournament was wrapped up before anyone outside of the finalists noticed.
However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s long-planned expansion changes everything. The 2025 edition will feature 32 clubs, structured exactly like the FIFA World Cup. These clubs are drawn from all six footballing confederations: UEFA (Europe), CONMEBOL (South America), CONCACAF (North America and Caribbean), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia) and OFC (Oceania).
The teams are divided into eight groups of four, with each side playing three group matches in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the round of 16, kicking off the knockout rounds. From there, it’s a straight path to the final: last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the showpiece final on 13th July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Interestingly, FIFA has opted not to include a third-place play-off, which is often met with fan and player indifference. The result is a more compact, focused knockout round where every fixture carries weight – and with a substantial amount of prize money on offer.
Squad rotation, fitness and momentum will be crucial in navigating a demanding month, especially as many clubs are coming off long domestic and European campaigns.
Expect to see squad players tested, tactical adaptability rewarded, and managers gambling with early substitutions or surprise formations. The stakes? A new kind of immortality: first-ever winners of the 32-team Club World Cup.
Group stage matches across June
The group stage will be played between 14th and 22nd June. It’s set to take place across 11 cities in the United States. These include sporting hubs such as Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas and Philadelphia.
That geographical spread reflects a conscious effort by FIFA and US Soccer to engage new markets, introduce club football to fresh audiences, and position the US as the global epicentre of the sport ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Among the early fixtures, PSG’s clash with Atlético Madrid and Manchester City’s match against Italian giants Juventus are likely to draw immediate interest. However, fans will be able to learn about new teams and cultures as Mamelodi Sundowns, Ulsan Hyundai, Wydad, Botafogo and more are set to compete.
It’s certainly a mix of football royalty and continental champions, with every game an intriguing blend of culture and contrast.
For Irish viewers, a number of games will be broadcast live and at accessible times in the evening thanks to the time difference. It’s the perfect excuse to gather together a few mates and enjoy the novelty of competitive club football in the evenings.
The diversity of the group stage is one of the tournament’s biggest selling points. Flamengo might be playing Urawa Red Diamonds. Club León could face off against Borussia Dortmund. Auckland City might share the same pitch as PSG. These are matchups that we would never see in a typical season, and they offer fans a unique opportunity to evaluate styles, strategies and stars from different hemispheres.
The tight window of just nine days means that each group match carries added pressure. One slip-up could be fatal. It rewards fast starters and punishes those who underestimate their opponents. Expect surprises. There are always surprises in formats like this.
Top five favourites for the Club World Cup
It’s difficult to know which of the favourites will show up in the tournament as it expands for the first time. Squad depth, travel fatigue and player availability will all play a significant role. However, bookmakers and analysts alike agree on five clubs that are most likely to dominate proceedings.
It’s no surprise to see Real Madrid as the favourites to lift the trophy. The club with the most Champions League titles in history heads to the US with a new head coach, Xabi Alonso, who was previously a player himself with Los Blancos.
The Spaniard impressed during his stint with Bayer Leverkusen and he will be keen to continue that success this summer. The club is also taking this tournament very seriously. Real secured the signature of Trent Alexander-Arnold early to make sure that he can play, while Kylian Mbappé will be keen to win the cup having watched his old team – PSG – win the Champions League for the first time at the end of May.
Manchester City fell short domestically this campaign, finishing in third place in the Premier League as well as losing the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. However, it would be foolish to rule out Pep Guardiola’s team bouncing back. Guardiola is a manager known for winning trophies at the highest-level year on year.
City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is a constant threat – even when his teammates are struggling – and their not-so-secret weapon’s form will be key if the English side are able to compete against other European powerhouses. Their main question mark, however, is squad fatigue after a gruelling Premier League season.
Paris Saint-Germain are the team that everyone is talking about as they head into the FIFA Club World Cup. With Luis Enrique in charge, the French club secured their first Champions League in emphatic style with a 5-0 win against Inter in the final.
With young talent spread throughout the team, the club has taken a new direction away from signing big names – and it’s working. If they aren’t fatigued from their long season, PSG will be many people’s favourites to win the tournament.
Bayern Munich cannot be ignored after securing the Bundesliga title again having lost out last season. Vincent Kompany’s side won in style, finishing 13 points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen. With a generous group stage draw, and with English striker Harry Kane leading the line, there is no reason why Bayern cannot go all the way this summer.
Chelsea will return to the Champions League next season having won the UEFA Conference League last month, and they will be hopeful of springing a surprise over the next few weeks. Compared to those teams listed, the London-based club has one of the biggest squads in the competition, which could be what gives them an advantage, especially in the group stage if they wrap up qualification early.
Outside of these five, there are plenty of teams looking to surprise. Palmeiras, the Brazilian giants, bring South American flair and physicality. Al Ahly, Africa’s most decorated club, are capable of causing problems in the group stage. And don’t discount big-spending Mexican clubs Monterrey and Club América from rocking the boat. These sides are used to high-pressure CONCACAF competition and have strong fanbases.
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Prediction for the competition
When it comes to making a prediction for the Club World Cup, Tonybet has Real Madrid and Manchester City as joint favourites, priced at 7/2 and 9/2 respectively. PSG are hot on their heels at 5/1 – a price that has shortened considerably since their Champions League success – while Bayern Munich trail closely behind at 6/1. Chelsea are next in line at 10/1.
However, odds don’t tell the whole story. What matters is momentum, injury status and tactical nous in a condensed, high-stakes format. Real Madrid’s familiarity with tournament play – knowing how to win ugly when needed – may give them an edge.
Paris Saint-Germain are the team heading into the tournament in fine form. If they keep doing what they have shown in recent months, then they could outscore any of the other teams in the tournament. PSG are very much the team to beat.
However, Bayern Munich look solid, dependable and built for a semi-final run. Chelsea? They are definitely the wildcard. Squad depth is their answer to any success in this new tournament.
If you’re backing with logic, Real Madrid and PSG are the standout candidates out of the top five in the market. If you want slightly bigger odds, Bayern Munich are a tempting shout after their impressive domestic campaign.
Irish football fans should keep an eye on Tonybet, which is offering competitive odds and hundreds of markets throughout the tournament. In a competition that’s so new and unpredictable, timing your bet could be just as important as the choice itself.
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Final whistle
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is more than just a rebranded tournament. It’s a paradigm shift. It’s FIFA’s biggest bet yet on globalising club football and breaking the European monopoly on attention and acclaim.
For Irish fans, it’s an opportunity to engage with football from across continents – to learn about clubs and styles that are rarely seen outside YouTube highlights or late-night recaps. It’s a chance to pick a second team, follow a dark horse, or cheer for your Premier League loyalties on an unfamiliar stage.
So, whether you’re team Madrid or just in it for the drama, this summer’s Club World Cup promises storylines and magical moments for underdogs. And it’s all happening under American lights. You’ll definitely want to tune in.
