2025 Fifa World Club Cup: How to watch as US tournament begins

Some of the world's best domestic sides are set to take on each other as well as league winners from less commercial corners of the world in the new look tournament, which begins on Saturday.

Chelsea and Manchester City are flying the flag for England and will come up some of the world's greatest clubs - potentially including Real Madrid, fresh from paying Liverpool £10m to allow new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold to play in the US.

Quickly wrapped-up deals have allowed the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Tijjani Reijnders to be on the plane to the US - with the summer transfer window having temporarily closed.

Cristiano Ronaldo has, meanwhile, confirmed he intends to stay with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, quashing rumours that he might move in order to play in the Fifa Club World Cup.

The Portuguese, who scored as his country won Sunday’s Uefa Nations League, had been tipped to join a new side in order to play in the upcoming tournament in the US. Having recently turned 40, his playing days may be numbered.

For 2025, Fifa has vastly expanded the competition to 32 teams, which will include Inter Miami - the “host” side that Ronaldo’s rival Lionel Messi plays for.

Ronaldo’s contract in Riyadh was due to expire this summer, prompting speculation linking him with Brazilian club Botafogo, who are involved in the Club World Cup.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino added credence to the reports by saying, “Ronaldo might play for one of the teams” featuring at the tournament in the United States and that “there are discussions with some clubs”.

Ronaldo hinted his future could lie elsewhere when he posted a message on social media at the end of Al-Nassr’s season that read: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.”

But speaking after Portugal’s triumph over Spain – in which Ronaldo scored his 138th international goal – the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star said he would not be moving on. “Future? Nothing will change. Al-Nassr? Yes,” the forward told reporters.

But while Ronaldo is not set to play at the Club World Cup, here is what is in store.

When is the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup?

The tournament is being played from June 14 to July 13 - which is two weeks after the Champions League final. It will wind up about a month before the Premier League season begins on August 16.

The Club World Cup will overlap with the Uefa Women’s European Championships which run from July 2-27.

A huge trough of prize money is on offer to incentivise clubs with a grand prize of £30m for the winners.

Where is it being played?

The tournament is being played across the US and will take in 12 venues across 11 host cities.

The first match will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami between the host side Inter Miami and Al Ahly of Egypt.

Inter Miami were officially given the nod for winning the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield but are thought to have been given the status as a means to involve Lionel Messi.

The final will be at the MetLife Stadium in EastRutherford.

Why is it being expanded?

This new tournament will be played every four years, the year before the World Cup, and has replaced the former Fifa Confederations Cup.

Manchester City won the last Club World Cup of the old style in December 2023 but will now be a much larger affair to offer the supposed pinnacle of the club game.

"It has to be an ambition and mission of Fifa to organise its events in new countries,” Fifa president Gianni Infantino said in 2022 as to why the move was made.

The move has been controversial, however, with Pep Guardiola among those to have raised concerns. The Manchester City boss has requested a delayed start to the Premier League season to allow his players to recover.

"The issue is that Uefa and Fifa keep adding extra matches, and we can raise concerns but no solutions have been found,” he said. “It seems that money speaks louder than the players' voices."

Fifa has said that it has consulted with all stakeholders.

A spokesman told the BBC: “The Fifa Club World Cup is not responsible for calendar congestion. It is a competitive tournament that takes place once every four years and, as independent studies have verified, Fifa is only responsible for a small percentage of matches per season.”

How can I watch the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup?

All 63 matches will be shown live on DAZN as part of a deal announced in December.

The service costs £24.99 per month or £14.99 if you commit to a year.

Some sports are available to see for nothing if you sign up to the DAZN Freemium service.

How did teams qualify?

All 32 teams qualified by either winning a continental title or by having a high ranking. Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea are all involved after winning the Uefa Champions League in recent years while other teams have been rewarded for consistent performance.

Who will Chelsea play?

After lifting the first silverware of the Todd Boehly – Clearlake Capital ownership era at the end of May, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are looking to add the revamped Club World Cup title to the Conference League trophy they won in Wroclaw.

For the group stages, the matches are as follows:

Chelsea vs Leon or Club America - June 16: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaChelsea vs Flamengo - June 20: Lincoln Financial Field, PhiladelphiaChelsea vs Espérance de Tunis - June 24: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Who will Manchester City play?

If Pep Guardiola has reservations about fixture congestion, injuries and a lack of preparation time for next season – all more than hinted at over the past season – he is now keeping them to himself.

“This is a very, very serious competition,” the City manager said recently with typical vigour. “In the summer, the whole world will be watching this.

“A big number of the top teams in the world will be competing in this tournament and I can assure you, we’re going to give it our best shot. We’re going there to win it.”

Manchester City vs Wydad AC - June 18: Lincoln Financial Field, PhiladelphiaManchester City vs Al Ain - June 22: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaManchester City vs Juventus - June 26: Camping World Stadium, Orlando

Which teams are in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup?

There are 12 European qualifiers and six from South America, four each from Africa, Asia and North America/Caribbean and one from Oceania.

An extra side from the host nation (Inter Miami) make up the 32. In European terms, the Champions League winners from 2021-24 were automatically entered – Chelsea (2021), Real Madrid (2022 and 2024) and City (2023).

Paris St Germain’s recent success counts for 2029 qualification but they claimed their slot based on ranking points alongside Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

There is a limit of two teams per country, meaning the likes of Liverpool, Barcelona, Napoli and AC Milan miss out despite having a higher ranking than other teams. The cap was relaxed for Brazil because the country produced four different South American champions in succession (Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo).

AFC (Asian Football Confederation)

Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)

Al Ain (UAE)

Ulsan HD (South Korea)

CAF (Confederation of African Football)

Al Ahly (Egypt)

Wydad AC (Morocco)

Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean)

Monterrey (Mexico)

Seattle Sounders FC (USA)

Pachuca (Mexico)

Los Angeles FC or Club América (TBD via playoff)

CONMEBOL (South America)

Palmeiras (Brazil)

Flamengo (Brazil)

Fluminense (Brazil)

Botafogo (Brazil)

River Plate (Argentina)

Boca Juniors (Argentina)

OFC (Oceania Football Confederation)

Auckland City (New Zealand)

UEFA (Europe)

Chelsea (England)

Real Madrid (Spain)

Manchester City (England)

Bayern Munich (Germany)

Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Inter Milan (Italy)

Porto (Portugal)

Benfica (Portugal)

Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Juventus (Italy)

Atlético Madrid (Spain)

Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)

Host

Inter Miami CF (USA)