The group stage draw for the first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup will be held on December 5, 2024, in Miami, where top clubs from around the globe will learn their opponents. Taking place at 1800 GMT, the draw will determine the eight groups of four teams each, with the tournament set to run in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
The expanded format, moving from seven teams to 32, has drawn scrutiny due to the added strain on players, and FIFA has yet to finalise broadcasting agreements or confirm the bulk of its sponsors. So far, Chinese electronics company Hisense remains the only sponsor announced.
The competition’s structure will allow the top two teams from each group to progress to the knockout stages, beginning with the round of 16 and culminating in the final. Unlike previous formats, there will be no third-place play-off. European giants Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich are among the clubs already confirmed.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino also recently revealed that Inter Miami, featuring Lionel Messi, will open the tournament at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on June 15. This new Club World Cup format is expected to run every four years, with no host yet chosen for the 2029 edition.
