Yahoo Sports Club World Cup: When is the draw? Pots and format explained
The draw for the FIFA Club World Cup will take place this evening as the tournament prepares for its rebrand.
FIFA have expanded the format from seven teams to 32 for 2025, with a month-long tournament set to take place in the United States this summer. Having previously been an annual competition between the champions of each confederation, the tournament will now be played every four years.
Teams have been paced into four pots ahead of the draw for the group stage. The invited teams and pots have been decided based on each team’s performance in the top-tier of their continental competition across the last four seasons.
Manchester City, the 2023 Champions League winners are in Pot One, while Chelsea, who qualified after winning the 2021 Champions League, are in Pot Two. Liverpool would have qualified for the tournament but a maximum of two teams from one country means the Reds miss out on a place.
Inter Miami have been invited despite not being continental champions, as FIFA brought in a team from the host nation. Lionel Messi’s side were chosen after winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Teams from the same confederation can not be pair together in the group stage, with the exception of UEFA due to 12 European teams having been invited. However, teams from the country cannot be paired together, so Chelsea and Man City cannot meet in the first round.
The winners and runners-up form each group will progress to the Round of 16.
When is the Club World Cup draw?
The draw for the Club World Cup will take place at 18:00 GMT on Thursday, 5 December.
2025 Club World Cup draw pots
Pot 1: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate, Fluminense
Pot 2: Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Juventus, Salzburg
Pot 3: Al Hilal, Ulsan, Al Ahly, Wydad, Monterrey, Club Leon, Boca Juniors, Botafogo
Pot 4: Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Esperance Sportive de Tunisie, Mamelodi Sundowns, Pachuca, Seattle Sounders, Auckland City, Inter Miami
When will the 2025 Club World Cup be played?
The FIFA Club World Cup will run from June 15 to July 13, 2025 across the United States. The final will be hosted at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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