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Preparations have been made for the 2025 Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States. An expanded tournament will now include 32 teams in eight groups of four. The draw for those groups took place on Thursday in Miami and we now know who will play against whom. Inter Miami opens against Al Ahly on June 15 and concludes the tournament on July 13 at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Let’s take a look at the groups, the group of death and rank the top five group stage meetings:
The groups
Group A
- Palmeiras
- Porto
- Al Ahly
- InterMiami
Group B
- Paris Saint Germain
- Atletico Madrid
- Botafogo
- Seattle sirens
Group C
- Bayern Munich
- Auckland City FC
- Boca juniors
- Benfica
Group D
- Flamengo
- ES Tunisia
- Chelsea
- Club Leon
Group E
- River plate
- Urawa red diamonds
- CF Monterrey
- Below
Group F
- Fluminense
- Borussia Dortmund
- Ulsan HD
- Mamelodi Sundowns FC
Group G
- Manchester city
- Wydad AC
- Al Ain FC
- Juventus
Group H
- Real Madrid
- Al Hilal
- CF Pachuca
- RB Salzburg
Is there a group of deaths?
Although one conclusion is that since the UEFA teams had to be separated by the draw, this does not mean that it does not seem more difficult for one group to get out than the other. At first glance, Group B and Group C stand out, but Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and the Seattle Sounders are just behind a group of Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors and Benfica. It is likely that PSG and Atleti will be the teams that will drop out of that group, but if someone makes a mistake it is time to be alert.
5. Inter Miami vs Al Ahly
Lionel Messi, new manager Javier Mascherano and Inter Miami may not have the biggest possible headline match against Al Ahly, but to kick off this star-studded tournament they will certainly put on a show. This is a big affair and only the second time an MLS team has been involved following the inclusion of the Seattle Sounders after winning the Concacaf Champions Cup and competing in 2022. It’s a chance for history and the first step is always the most important one.
4. Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal
The Galacticos facing one of the top teams in the Saudi Pro League and former Barcelona man Joao Cancelo is also a big deal. The Saudi Pro League has already submitted a bid for Madrid player Kylian Mbappé and could certainly sign for more Real Madrid players in the future. With the purchasing power to compete with the best in the world, Al-Hilal cannot be ruled out adding another star to their ranks.
3. Chelsea vs Flamengo
Brazilian teams always do their best at the Club World Cup and Flamengo is no stranger to this tournament. This is their second appearance in the last four years and they will face a new Chelsea team. With the Blues at the top under Enzo Maresca, it will be a good, formative experience to take part in a competition like this.
2. Bayern Munich vs. Benfica
They may have played in the Champions League recently, but in another group where points dropped can make the difference, the showdown between Harry Kane and Angel Di Maria will be a good time. These teams are no strangers to top competition and perform on the world stage, while also boasting emerging global stars.
1. Paris Saint Germain vs Atletico Madrid
The kick-off of the group of death is the most important match, as the loser between PSG and Atleti will be behind the eight ball. In a group with Botafogo and the Sounders, there is no guarantee of remaining undefeated in all group stage matches. Therefore, all points lost will matter. The post-Mbappe era hasn’t exactly been kind to PSG, but they have plenty of time to sort things out before the Club World Cup.
Important dates for the Club World Cup
- June 15: Opening game at Hard Rock Stadium
- July 13: Finals at MetLife Stadium
Venues for the Club World Cup
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
- TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
- Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
- GEODIS Park, Nashville
- Camping World Stadium, Orlando
- Inter & Co Stadium, Orlando
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Lumen Field, Seattle
- Audi Field, Washington DC
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford