1. Dates & Format
- When & Where: June 14 – July 13, 2025, across 12 venues in 11 US cities.
- Format: 32 clubs split into 8 groups of 4; group stage → top two advance to the Round of 16 → knockouts → final (no third-place play-off) .
- Prize Money: Nearly £100 million total, with significant financial rewards for participating and advancing clubs.
2. Qualified Clubs by Confederation
Allocation follows FIFA’s approved slot system:
- UEFA (12 spots): Powerhouses like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Chelsea, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Porto, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Red Bull Salzburg.
- CONMEBOL (6): Champions such as Flamengo, River Plate, Fluminense, Palmeiras, Boca Juniors, Botafogo.
- AFC (4): Al-Hilal, Ulsan Hyundai, J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain.
- CAF (3): Likely Al Ahly, Esperance, Wydad AC.
- CONCACAF (3): Inter Miami (host), Monterrey, Pachuca, plus Seattle Sounders.
- OFC (1): Auckland City — the only amateur team.
3. Groups at a Glance
Based on the draw held December 2024 (pots by ranking/confederation):
| Group | Notable Clubs |
|---|---|
| A | Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami |
| B | PSG, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders |
| C | Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica |
| D | Flamengo, Esperance, Chelsea, León |
| E | River Plate, Monterrey, Inter Milan, Urawa |
| F | Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan Hyundai, Mamelodi Sundowns |
| G | Manchester City, Juventus, Al Ain, Wydad AC |
| H | Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca, Red Bull Salzburg |
4. Star Power & Storylines
- Defending champs: Manchester City return aiming to defend their 2023 title .
- Messi’s debut: Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami, debuting in the competition .
- European showdowns: Intense UEFA matchups in groups B (PSG vs Atletico) and G (Man City vs Juventus) .
- Underdog tales: Auckland City’s amateur flair, Seattle’s home advantage, and Fluminense’s comeback arc .
5. Controversies & Criticisms
- Fixture congestion: Players’ union PFA and FIFPRO cite a “never-ending calendar” and ongoing legal challenges .
- Qualification debates: Big names like Liverpool, United, Arsenal missed due to UEFA slot limits .
- Ticket issues: Some venues report low local demand; FIFA has reduced prices and offered promotions .
6. What to Watch
- Live coverage: Free-to-air via DAZN globally; Channel 5 broadcasts 23 matches in the UK.
- Player health: Monitoring injuries and fatigue amid early summer scheduling.
- Group drama: Key encounters include Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal (Group H) and Chelsea vs Flamengo (Group D).
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