The 2025 Club World Cup will be held from Jun 15-July 13, FIFA officially confirmed on Sunday. This will be the first-ever expanded version of the tournament, which will feature 32 teams and will be played in the United States.
The Seattle Sounders are one of 12 teams to have already qualified, joining Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City from UEFA; Palmeiras, Flamengo and Fluminense from CONMEBOL; Monterrey and Léon from Concacaf; Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds from AFC; and Al Ahly and Wydad AC from CAF. There will be nine more teams from UEFA (the 2024-25 Champions League winners and eight based on a ranking system); one more from CONMEBOL; one more from Concacaf; two more from AFC; two more from CAF; and one team from OFC, which will almost certainly be Auckland City.
The final team will be from the United States, representing the hosts, and has yet to be chosen. If past precedence is followed, it would likely be the 2024 MLS Cup winner.
All teams will play at least three games but could play as many as seven. It’s not yet clear how this will fit into the MLS and Liga MX schedules, something further complicated by Leagues Cup that usually runs about a month later.
Aside from having a chance to face off against some of the world’s top teams, reports suggest that the Sounders will also be guaranteed a $50 million payday with the potential for more depending on how far they advance.
Separate from this, FIFA also announced plans for a new International Cup where the Concacaf and Copa Libertadores winners will face off in an annual meeting that effectively serves as a one-game playoff. The winner will then advance to a four-team neutral site tournament where the UEFA Champions League winner will be waiting.
