The Miami sun might be known for its warmth, but the heat is about to turn up even hotter in 2025. Inter Miami CF, the club owned by the global superstar David Beckham, is set to host a spectacle unlike any other: the FIFA Club World Cup. This isn’t just another tournament; it’s an opportunity for Inter Miami to etch its name in football history, to showcase the burgeoning talent on their roster, and to captivate a global audience.
Get ready for a clash of titans, a celebration of footballing excellence, and a chance to witness history in the making.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about this electrifying event.Getting Ready for the Big Stage
What is the FIFA Club World Cup?
With 32 participating clubs from around the world, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is the most inclusive and merit-based global club competition, creating an opportunity for the best clubs in the world to fight for the crown.
Dates The tournament will take place from 14 June to 13 July 2025.
How did Inter Miami secure its place to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
Inter Miami secured its spot at the new FIFA Club World Cup after winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield, confirming the Club as the best team throughout the 2024 MLS regular season.
Inter Miami qualified as the host country representative team on the basis of the Club’s outstanding and consistent 34-match campaign that saw them secure the shield by breaking the all-time MLS record for the most points in a single season, completing its 2024 season with 74 points.
Tournament Format and Schedule
Competition Format: Group Stage and Knockout Rounds
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ will get underway with a group stage of eight groups of four teams per group playing in a single-game round-robin format.
Inter Miami was drawn alongside Palmeiras, FC Porto and Al Ahly FC in group A.
All of the groups for the competition can be viewed HERE.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16.
From there on, the next rounds will be direct single-match knockout stages from the round of 16 to the final.
There will be no third-place play-off match.
Inter Miami CF’s Group Stage Schedule:
Saturday, June 14 vs. Al Ahly FC at 8 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium
Thursday, June 19 vs. FC Porto at 3 p.m. ET at Mercedes Benz Stadium
Monday, June 23 vs. Palmeiras at 9 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium
Where to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup 2025
The FIFA Club World Cup will look a whole lot different to what we’ve been used to and FIFA has managed to ensure Lionel Messi will be front and centre.
The previous incarnation of the Club World Cup saw seven teams from the six FIFA confederations play seven matches across 11 days at one central host.
Now 32 teams will descend on the United States to battle it out for the title of the world’s greatest club team of the last four seasons, cramming 63 fixtures into 29 days.
Group Stage and Knockout Round Fixtures
Here’s everything you need to know about the new-look competition.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy with Ronaldo.
Marcos Bello – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
What is the format of the Club World Cup?
It mirrors the old format of the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League.
With the 32 clubs drawn into eight groups of four, they play each other once and filter into a knockout tournament.
The group winners and runners-up go through and then it’s a straight knockout competition — round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final — with extra time and penalties determining who progresses should a game end in a draw.
What are the dates and fixtures for the Club World Cup?
The opening match, Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami, will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday, June 14.
The final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, July 13.
The rest of the fixtures can be seen here.
A Brief History of the FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup is set to kick off its 21st edition in 2025, with a new, expanded format that promises to be more inclusive and merit-based global club competition. As Inter Miami CF prepares to make its historic debut in the tournament, Morningpicker takes a look at the history of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Real Madrid are the winningest side with five titles, followed by Barcelona FC with three, and Corinthians and Bayern Munich with two crowns each. The previous champions are:
- Corinthians (2000)
- São Paulo (2005)
- Sport Club International (2006)
- AC Milan (2007)
- Manchester United (2008)
- FC Barcelona (2009)
- FC Internazionale (2010)
- FC Barcelona (2011)
- Corinthians (2012)
- Bayern Munich (2013)
- Real Madrid (2014>
- FC Barcelona (2015)
- Real Madrid (2016)
- Real Madrid (2017)
- Real Madrid (2018)
- Liverpool FC (2019)
- Bayern Munich (2020)
- Chelsea FC (2021)
- Real Madrid (2022)
- Manchester City (2023)
The Most Successful Teams in the Competition
Real Madrid, Barcelona FC, Corinthians, and Bayern Munich are the most successful teams in the competition, with multiple titles under their belt. These teams have consistently performed well in the tournament, showcasing their strength and depth in the world of club football.
The New-Look Competition
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 marks a significant shift in the competition format, with 32 teams participating in the tournament, making it the most inclusive and merit-based global club competition.
What is the Format of the Club World Cup?
The new format of the Club World Cup mirrors the old format of the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League. With the 32 clubs drawn into eight groups of four, they play each other once, and the winners and runners-up from each group advance to a knockout tournament. The knockout stages will feature direct single-match eliminations from the round of 16 to the final, with no third-place playoff match.
How Did Teams Qualify for the New Club World Cup?
There were two ways to qualify for the Club World Cup: by winning a continental title in one of the four most recent seasons or by having a high ranking of performance in the top continental tournament over the four-year period. Each confederation has been given a set number of places based on its strength, and UEFA has 12 slots, and CONMEBOL six. There’s four each for Concacaf, Asia, and Africa, plus one for Oceania.
Which Teams Qualified for this Edition of the Club World Cup?
Each country was allowed a maximum of two participants, with one caveat. All continental champions have a right to play at the Club World Cup, and Brazilian clubs are so dominant in South American football that they have won all four qualifying editions of the CONMEBOL Libertadores (it’s actually the last six back to 2020), each with a different club. So, Brazil gets four teams in the competition, rather than two.
Once the standard two-per-country limit was hit, another club from that nation couldn’t qualify by the ranking route – and this has ruled out six teams: Liverpool, RB Leipzig, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, and AC Milan. For instance, as Chelsea and Manchester City claimed a slot by winning the Champions League in recent seasons, Liverpool – ranked eighth – were bypassed to fill up the UEFA allocation because there were already two Premier League teams.
Here are the 31 teams who won their place in the 2025 on merit:
- Chelsea – Champions League win 2020-21
- Real Madrid – Champions League win 2021-22
- Manchester City – Champions League win 2022-23
- Bayern Munich – UEFA 4-year ranking
- Paris Saint-Germain – UEFA 4-year ranking
- Internazionale – UEFA 4-year ranking
- FC Porto – UEFA 4-year ranking
- Benfica – UEFA 4-year ranking
- Borussia Dortmund – UEFA 4-year ranking
- Juventus – UEFA 4-year ranking
- Atlético Madrid – UEFA 4-year ranking
- RB Salzburg – UEFA 4-year ranking
- Palmeiras – CONMEBOL Libertadores
- Inter Miami CF – Host country representative team
Conclusion
As we conclude our exploration of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a focus on Inter Miami CF, it’s clear that this tournament holds immense significance for the global football community. The article has shed light on the rich history of the Club World Cup, highlighting the triumphs of previous winners and the challenges faced by teams in the competition. Inter Miami CF’s participation in the 2025 tournament promises to be an exciting chapter in the team’s nascent history, with fans eagerly awaiting the opportunity to witness the team’s growth and development on the international stage.
The implications of the Club World Cup extend beyond the tournament itself, with far-reaching consequences for football clubs, leagues, and governing bodies. The tournament serves as a platform for teams to test their mettle against the best in the world, providing invaluable experience and exposure that can shape their future success. As the football landscape continues to evolve, the Club World Cup will remain a benchmark for excellence, pushing teams to innovate, adapt, and strive for greatness. Furthermore, the tournament’s growing popularity and reach will only continue to increase its influence, shaping the future of football and inspiring a new generation of players, coaches, and fans.
As the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup approaches, one thing is certain: the stage is set for an unforgettable spectacle. With Inter Miami CF set to take on the best of the best, the world of football will be watching with bated breath. Will they rise to the challenge and make a lasting impression, or will they succumb to the pressure of playing against the greatest teams on the planet? The answer will be etched in history, leaving behind a lasting impact that will inspire and motivate generations to come. The world of football will be forever changed by this tournament, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.