The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup draw has been finalised and all 32 participants now know their fates for next summer’s group stage in the United States.
The expanded and revamped tournament has understandably divided opinion among supporters, many of whom are already growing weary at the relentlessness of the club football calendar. However, when the competition rolls around next June, there will undoubtedly be eyes cast towards North America.
The group stage draw has thrown up some fascinating duels as an array of clubs from all six continental federations prepare to duke it out for world champion status. Many of the matchups at the tournament have never been witnessed previously.
Here are the six most intriguing fixtures of the 2025 Club World Cup group stage – ranked.
Next summer’s Club World Cup kicks off with a cracker. Inter Miami may only be in the competition as a host club but they are one of North America’s top sides, led by eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and supported by fellow veterans and ex-Barcelona chums Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez.
Eyes will undoubtedly be fixed on the Herons’ diminutive Argentine but reigning African Champions League holders Al Ahly have plenty of experience in this competition. The Egyptian giants are making their tenth appearance having won CAF’s most prestigious prize in three of the past four seasons.
These two European foes locked horns for the first time during the league phase of the 2024/25 Champions League, with a 93rd-minute effort from super sub Angel Correa securing a comeback win for the Spanish side. This may not have the allure of intercontinental battles but it will be one of the highest quality meetings during the group stage.
It will be the first fixture for both sides in Group B, with current Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo and 2022 CONCACAF Champions League victors Seattle Sounders looking on with keen interest.
Chelsea have twice faced Brazilian opposition in the past (excluding friendlies) but they have never duelled with Flamengo. The Blues will be among the favourites for the tournament in the United States, with games against Mexican side Leon and Tunisian outfit ES Tunis sandwiched in between a mighty clash with one of South America’s behemoths.
Flamengo have made regular appearances at the Club World Cup in recent years, reaching the final of the competition in 2019. They battled English opponents on that occasion, losing 1-0 to Liverpool after extra-time. It’s the closest they’ve come to the crown.
Juventus and Manchester City have fought on six occasions since 1976’s first meeting in the UEFA Cup but the Italian giants have not come across England’s dominant force since 2015. Two group stage Champions League fixtures ended in Juve’s favour.
However, it will be Man City who boast the tag of favourites when these two face off at the Club World Cup. The Cityzens won the trophy in 2023 on their only appearance, with Juventus having never previously taken to the field in the competition. It will be another high-quality affair between European heavyweights.
Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors have never contested a Club World Cup affair but they did clash in the 2001 Intercontinental Cup. A competition initially held from 1960 to 2004, it would put the Champions League/European Cup winners up against the Copa Libertadores champions in a one-off duel.
Argentinian giants Boca were the reigning champions when they faced Bayern in 2001, but it was the German side who triumphed thanks to centre-back Samuel Kaffour’s effort in extra-time.
The gap between these two gargantuan forces is greater now than it was at the turn of the century, but next summer’s matchup should be similarly dramatic.
You don’t have to look too deep in the record books to find the last and only meeting between Real Madrid and Al Hilal. The two came up against each other at the 2022 Club World Cup (which actually took place in February 2023) in Morocco and played out a thriller in the final.
The Spanish side triumphed for a record fifth time in the competition as they beat their Saudi opposition 5-3, with Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior both bagging braces in an exciting affair. Despite the scoreline, Madrid never lost control of a high-scoring match.
More of the same would be welcomed next summer, with Al Hilal currently boasting the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and, of course, Neymar in their squad.
