FIFA Club World Cup, 2025

In its 21st edition, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 became the first in the competition’s history to mirror the FIFA World Cup tournament format.

Staged in the USA from 14 June to 13 July, this structure allowed for a wider range of clubs to participate, including those from Oceania.

A total prize pool of a billion US dollars was split between the participating clubs with the tournament winner awarded up to 5 million, a significant increase in financial rewards compared to previous editions.

In addition to the prize money, a solidarity investment program targeted an additional 0 million being provided to club football throughout the world.

DAZN acquired global rights to the tournament for a billion Euros; streaming all games for free as well as sublicensing rights to local broadcasters.

32 teams were divided into eight groups, with the top two advancing to the knockout stages.

The group stage featured some mismatches (notably Bayern Munchen’s 10-0 win against Auckland City) and low attendances (3,412 saw the game between Ulsan HD versus Mamelodi Sundowns in Orlando).

The round of 16 provided the shock of the tournament with Al Hilal’s 4-3 win against Manchester City.

The Saudi Arabian team fell in the Quarter-finals to Brazil’s Fluminense who became the only non-European team to reach the Semi-finals.

It was Chelsea – who qualified by winning the UEFA Champions League in 2021 – who were crowned as the first-ever champions of the new-style Club World Cup after an impressive 3-0 win in the Final against current European Champions Paris St Germain in New Jersey.

A total of 195 goals were scored in the 63 games (3.1 per game).

Attendances totalled 2,491,462 (an average 39, 547).