Frank Christian
The upcoming 2025 Club World Cup is generating anticipation as it brings a new format that has yet to be seen before. The tournament will take place in the United States, spanning June to July next year, and is being branded as the largest global club soccer event to date, now transitioning to a four-year cycle instead of being held annually.
Prominent teams such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich will participate, alongside MLS squads like Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders. Notable South American clubs, including Palmeiras, Fluminense, River Plate, and Boca Juniors, will also be involved.
Here’s what we know so far about the upcoming draw that will determine the group stage for next summer’s tournament.
When is the draw for the 2025 Club World Cup?
The draw for the group stage of the 2025 Club World Cup is scheduled for Thursday, December 5 at 1 p.m. ET, and will be held in Miami, Florida. This will be a live studio event.
Where to watch the 2025 Club World Cup draw
You can watch the live stream of the 2025 Club World Cup draw on FIFA.com and FIFA+. It is still uncertain if Fox Sports, as FIFA’s official U.S. broadcast partner for the 2025 Club World Cup and 2026 FIFA World Cup, will also cover or stream the draw event.
How will the draw for the 2025 Club World Cup be conducted?
While FIFA hasn’t released detailed rules regarding the draw, it’s expected that the format will closely resemble that of previous FIFA World Cup draws. With 32 teams participating, similar to the traditional World Cup setup before its expansion in 2026, the grouping process is anticipated to follow an analogous structure.
Teams will be categorized into four “pots” based on their global prominence. Unlike the World Cup, where national teams’ pots were determined by FIFA rankings, the method for categorizing clubs into pots remains unclear.
Teams will then be allocated into eight groups, each consisting of four teams, drawing one from each pot. There may also be stipulations in place to shape group compositions.
Specifically, teams from the same continent are typically not allowed in the same group, except for European clubs, which can have a maximum of two in each group due to a greater number of teams participating.
