FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicks off: 32 teams battle for glory in group stage

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has officially started with 32 elite clubs, including Manchester City and Real Madrid, competing in eight groups. This tournament marks a fresh chance for Manchester City to rebound after a tough 2024-25 season, while fans worldwide can catch live action on DAZN starting June 18.

Sources:
Livemint+2
Updated 2h ago
Tab background
Sources: Livemint
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has officially begun, featuring 32 teams divided into eight groups battling for glory in the group stage.

Among the highlights, Manchester City and Real Madrid make their tournament debuts, with City facing Moroccan side Wydad AC and Real Madrid playing their first competitive match under new head coach Xabi Alonso against Al Hilal.

Manchester City, coming off a disappointing 2024-25 season after losing the Premier League title to Liverpool and an early Champions League exit, are eager to turn their fortunes around. Their squad includes new summer signings like Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki, who may make their debuts.

Wydad AC, who secured third place in the 2024-25 Botola Pro 1 and qualified for the CAF Champions League 2025-26, have also strengthened their roster with new signings Bart Meijers, Stephane Aziz Ki, and experienced winger Nordin Amrabat.

“Manchester City will be hoping to salvage their season with a strong FIFA Club World Cup 2025 run,” reflecting the high stakes for the English club.

The tournament's format sees the top two teams from each group advancing to the Round of 16, setting the stage for intense knockout rounds.

Matches are being held at venues like Hard Rock Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field, with live streaming available on DAZN in the United States.

This year’s competition promises thrilling encounters as modern stars like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Vinicius Jr join the fray, making the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 a must-watch event for football fans worldwide.
Sources: 1
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has kicked off with 32 teams competing in the group stage. Manchester City and Real Madrid make their tournament debuts, facing Wydad AC and Al Hilal respectively. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16 in this global football showdown.
Section 1 background
Key Facts
  • Manchester City and Real Madrid make their FIFA Club World Cup debuts on June 18, 2025, with Manchester City facing Wydad AC at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and Real Madrid playing Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium.3Livemint3
  • Key players Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Vinicius Jr are among the modern-day greats making their debuts on Day 5 of the tournament.1
  • Manchester City's squad includes new summer signings Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki who may make their tournament debuts.Livemint
  • Wydad AC have strengthened their roster with new signings Bart Meijers, Stephane Aziz Ki, and experienced winger Nordin Amrabat aiming to challenge Manchester City.Livemint
  • The Manchester City vs Wydad AC match will be streamed live on DAZN, FIFA's global broadcast partner in the United States, starting at 12 PM ET.Livemint
  • Manchester City aims to salvage their disappointing 2024-25 season after losing the Premier League title to Liverpool and being eliminated by Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League knockout playoffs.Livemint33
  • The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 features 32 teams divided into eight groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Round of 16 knockout stage.
Manchester City and Real Madrid make their FIFA Club World Cup bows in four more hugely-anticipated games.
FIFA
1
Following a disappointing close to the 2024-25 season, Manchester City will want to bounce back and begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on a high note by clinching a win against Wydad Casablanca. ’s squad includes new members, with summer signings Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki potentially making their debuts.
Livemint
Livemint
This year’s tournament features 32 teams split into eight groups. The top two from each group advance to the Round of 16, followed by the knockout stages.
Business-standard
1
Key Stats at a Glance
Number of teams in FIFA Club World Cup 2025
32 teams
Article not found
⌂ CuriousCats.ai

Article

‹

Source Citations