The draw for the newly formatted 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is complete ahead of the competition taking place between June 15 and July 13 in the United States. Now let’s answer the big questions. Which teams are strongest in their confederation? Are Lionel Messi and Inter Miami strong contenders? What about Manchester City? Or will we see a surprise winner this time around?
With the opponents known, ESPN’s experts take a closer look at all the teams while giving their predictions on who will take the title and be the top scorer come the end of the tournament.
Europe
Teams: Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg
Which team is the strongest in your confederation?
This is a tough call. Real Madrid and Manchester City would ordinarily be the leading sides, as reigning Champions League holders and Premier League champions respectively, but both sides are enduring difficult seasons. Yet with neither Liverpool nor Barcelona — Europe’s most in-form teams right now — qualifying for the Club World Cup, Real and City just nudge Bayern Munich and Chelsea out as the strongest sides. But their present weaknesses mean that next summer might not be the formality that many would usually expect.
Group F: Fluminense (Brazil), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Ulsan HD (South Korea), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Top two: Borussia Dortmund and Ulsan HD
Arguably the weakest group in the tournament. Brazilian giants Fluminense are enduring a dismal season and are at risk of relegation from Serie A, while Dortmund are outside the Bundesliga top four and 10 points behind leaders Bayern Munich. With South African football at a low point right now, Ulsan could find a way through this section.
Group G: Manchester City (England), Wydad AC (Morocco), Al Ain (UAE), Juventus (Italy)
Top two: Manchester City and Juventus
Watch out for Wydad AC — that should be the warning to European heavyweights Juventus and Manchester City. Morocco’s success at the 2022 World Cup highlighted the country’s quality and Wydad could catch City off guard in the opening game. A quirk of the draw has also seen Abu Dhabi-owned City paired with Abu Dhabi-based Al Ain, whose president is Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, president of the UAE and brother of City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan.
Group H: Real Madrid (Spain), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Pachuca (Mexico), FC Salzburg (Austria)
Top two: Real Madrid and Al Hilal
This group should be a cruise for Real Madrid, but there will also be some extra star quality added by Neymar if the Brazil forward returns to form and fitness with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. Neither Pachuca nor FC Salzburg have any great pedigree outside of their home country, so they will not be regarded as heavyweights in this competition, and Al Hilal might just sneak into runners-up spot behind Real.
Which teams will reach the semifinals?
While there will be an element of survival of the fittest at the Club World Cup, quality will eventually come out on top. But there will be at least one surprise team making it to the last four. Manchester City and Real Madrid will be in opposite halves of the draw if, as expected, they win their groups and could meet in the final. But Flamengo and Botafogo will be dangerous, so the last four will be: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Flamengo.
Who will be in the final?
Chelsea have the youthful energy of so many emerging players, including Palmer, Jackson and Moisés Caicedo, while coach Maresca’s sensible approach to squad rotation will ensure the team have the physical capability to endure a month-long tournament.
The likes of Real, Bayern and Manchester City can’t rest players in the Champions League as Chelsea have been able to do in the Conference League, and it will make a difference after 10-month season. And Flamengo, like Palmeiras, Fluminense and Botafogo, will benefit from the Brazilian season only being at its halfway stage and that will be a big factor — as will their determination to strike a blow for Brazilian and South American football by winning the Club World Cup. Chelsea and Flamengo are due to meet in Group D, but they could also meet in the final.
Predicted final: Chelsea vs. Flamengo
