FIFA has officially set December 5 as the date for the eagerly awaited draw for the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup, which will feature 32 of the world’s top football clubs.
The draw will take place in Miami at 18:00 GMT and will determine the group stage matchups for the tournament.
For the first time ever, 32 teams will compete in the expanded format of the tournament, which will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
The tournament will be divided into eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will open the competition at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 15.
This will mark the start of what promises to be an exciting new chapter in international club football.
The newly revamped competition has stirred mixed reactions. While some view it as a celebration of the global game, others worry about the added strain it could place on players, especially with a tournament this large.
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FIFA has yet to finalize broadcast deals for the event, which has added to the uncertainty surrounding the tournament’s logistics.
The expanded format will see clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich battling for supremacy, with the top 16 teams moving into the knockout rounds.
This edition of the Club World Cup will not feature a third-place match, with the competition wrapping up with the final in mid-July.
Looking ahead, FIFA plans to hold the tournament every four years, though the host for the 2029 edition has not yet been determined.
As the December 5 draw draws near, football fans around the world are eagerly awaiting to see how the groups will shape up for this historic event.