Club World Cup team guide: Inter to Chelsea to Auckland City, all 32 profiled

The 2025 Club World Cup will feature 32 clubs from across the globe who will go through group stages and then knockout rounds. This differs from the previous format, which saw one team each from six continental confederations and the league champions from the host nation fight it out.

There have been concerns over the tournament elongating the football calendar and controversy over qualification criteria. Inter Miami, for example, are in after winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield, but having lost in the subsequent MLS play-offs, Lionel Messi’s side are not MLS champions.

Several high-profile teams, including Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Bayer Leverkusen will not be there, but the likes of Manchester City, Inter and Real Madrid will be. A full explanation of the qualification criteria and how to watch the draw can be found here. The draw takes place in Miami today at 1pm ET (6pm GMT).

Below, The Athletic profiles each of the 32 teams, ranked by their position in the Opta Global Power Rankings (all data in this piece is correct as of December 3, 2024). You can find a table with the 32 clubs and their world rankings at the bottom of this article.

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Inter

Country: Italy

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 2

Opta Serie A Ranking: 1

How they qualified: UEFA Ranking between 2021 and 2024

Inter’s only Club World Cup appearance came in 2011. They beat TP Mazembe 3-0 in the final. They got there after achieving the treble in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League. They also achieved another treble back in 1965, lifting the now-defunct Intercontinental Cup, league title and European Cup.

Key Player: Lautaro Martinez

Since joining from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has scored 135 times in 298 matches, leading Inter to seven domestic trophies and winning the 2023-24 Serie A golden boot.

Manchester City

Country: England

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 3

Opta Premier League Ranking: 2

How they qualified: 2022-23 Champions League winners

City won the 2023 Club World Cup by defeating Fluminense 4-0 in their tournament debut. The Premier League’s defending champions have been one of the world’s best teams over the past 15 years. They were the first English team to win a domestic and European cup in the same season back in 1970 when they lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup and League Cup.

Key Player: Erling Haaland

City evidently struggle without Rodri, but with him injured, Haaland is their key player. The Norway international has 107 goals in 117 appearances for the club. Even in what has been a difficult 2024-25 season, he has 17 strikes in 19 games.

Real Madrid

Country: Spain

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 5

Opta La Liga Ranking: 1

How they qualified: 2023-24 Champions League winners

Real Madrid have won the most Club World Cup titles (five). In addition to being the only team to have won the Champions League thrice in a row two times, Madrid are also the only Spanish team to have played their own academy team in a cup final, doing so in the 1980 Copa del Rey.

Key Player: Vinicius Junior

Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Vinicius Jr has recorded 81 goals and 60 assists in 154 matches, averaging 0.9 goal contributions per game.

Country: Germany

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 8

Opta Bundesliga Ranking: 1

How they qualified: UEFA Ranking between 2021 and 2024

Bayern have won two Club World Cups, both of which followed treble-winning campaigns in 2012-13 and 2019-20 — a feat matched only by Barcelona. The connection between the two teams is extensive. In addition to meeting 16 times in European competitions, they were founded just 91 days apart — Barcelona on November 28, 1899, and Bayern on February 27, 1900.

Key Player: Harry Kane

In November, Kane became the fastest player to reach 50 Bundesliga goals, taking just 43 matches. Overall, his record at Bayern stands at 64 goals and 21 assists in 64 matches.

Paris Saint-Germain

Country: France

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 9

Opta Ligue 1 Ranking: 1

How they qualified: UEFA Ranking between 2021 and 2024

Next summer will mark PSG’s first appearance in the Club World Cup. PSG have played in three finals on the European stage (1996-97 Cup Winners’ Cup and Super Cup, and 2019-20 Champions League), but have lost them all. Among the UEFA clubs in the 2025 edition, PSG are the youngest, having been founded in 1970.

Key Player: Bradley Barcola

Barcola has more than doubled his Ligue 1 goal tally from last season (four) in just 13 matches, scoring 10 times. No PSG forward has played more minutes than his 1,301 across competitions this season.

Country: England

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 10

Opta Premier League Ranking: 4

How they qualified: 2020-21 Champions League winners

Chelsea won the 2021 Club World Cup after beating Palmeiras 2-1 after extra time. However, among the European teams set to feature in the 2025 edition, they are one of only two teams to have lost a Club World Cup final (Real Madrid being the other), after losing 1-0 to Corinthians in 2012. Chelsea are the only team to have won the Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup twice.

Key Player: Cole Palmer

Palmer has contributed to 54 goals in 60 matches across all competitions for Chelsea and is currently on a contract until 2033.

Country: Italy

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 13

Opta Serie A Ranking: 3

How they qualified: UEFA Ranking between 2021 and 2024

Juventus have never participated in the Club World Cup, though they have lifted the Champions League twice and Europa League/UEFA Cup three times. They also enjoyed success in the Cup Winners’ Cup (1983-84) and Intercontinental Cup (twice). Juventus were the first club to add a star to their jersey back in 1958 to commemorate their 10th Serie A title. They now boast three stars and are just four away from being eligible to add a fourth.

Key Player: Andrea Cambiaso

Cambiaso has played all of Juventus’ first 19 games this season, racking up the most minutes with 1,567 across competitions. He has contributed two goals and two assists.

Atletico Madrid

Country: Spain

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 14

Opta La Liga Ranking: 3

How they qualified: UEFA Ranking between 2021 and 2024

Atletico Madrid will be competing in the Club World Cup for the first time, having never won the Champions League. They are among the five teams to have won the Europa League/UEFA Cup three or more times, though. While rivals of Real Madrid, Atletico were formed in 1903 as a Madrid branch of Athletic Club by three students from the Basque region, which is why both teams wear red and white stripes.

Key Player: Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann was not at Atletico when they won their two most recent La Liga titles, but he is their all-time top scorer with 188 goals in 410 matches across three spells (2014-19, 2021-23 on loan, and 2023-present).

Country: Germany

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 20

Opta Bundesliga Ranking: 3

How they qualified: UEFA Ranking between 2021 and 2024

This will be Dortmund’s first appearance at the Club World Cup, but they won the Intercontinental Cup in 1997 following their Champions League triumph earlier that year. Before that, Dortmund were the first German team to win a European trophy after lifting the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1966.

Key Player: Karim Adeyemi

Adeyemi has struggled to stay fit, but his five goals and five assists in eight matches across competitions have come in just 510 minutes of action. He is on track to eclipse his best season at Dortmund (nine goals, six assists in 32 matches in 2022-23).

Benfica

Country: Portugal

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 21

Opta Primeira Liga Ranking: 2

How they qualified: UEFA Ranking between 2021 and 2024

Benfica won successive European Cups in 1961 and 1962 and this will be their first Club World Cup. They also hold the distinction of going an entire league season unbeaten and not winning the title in 1977-78, with 21 wins and nine draws from 30 matches. Benfica finished level on points with Porto but lost the title as Porto scored 81 goals to their 56.

Key Player: Kerem Akturkoglu

In his first season at Benfica, Akturkoglu has recorded nine goals and four assists in just 14 matches. Two of his five league goals have been match-winners, too.

Porto

Country: Portugal

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 23

Opta Primeira Liga Ranking: 3

How they qualified: UEFA Ranking between 2021 and 2024

Porto have won the Champions League and Europa League/UEFA Cup twice, leading to two Intercontinental Cup wins in 1987 and 2004 before the Club World Cup was formed. Domestically, Porto have won the league 30 times and are the only Portuguese team to have won five league titles in a row (between 1994 and 1999).

Key Player: Samu Aghehowa (formerly Omorodion)

Aghehowa joined Porto last summer from Atletico Madrid after missing out on a move to Chelsea and has scored 13 times in 14 games across the league and Europa League, averaging a goal every 83 minutes.

Al Hilal

Country: Saudi Arabia

Confederation: AFC

Global Power Ranking: 30

Opta Saudi Pro League Ranking: 1

How they qualified: 2021 AFC Champions League winners

Al Hilal have competed in the Club World Cup three times, even making the final of the 2022 edition, where they lost 5-3 to Real Madrid. They went the 2023-24 league season unbeaten, winning 31 of their 34 games with 101 goals scored, 23 conceded and 96 points.

Key Player: Aleksandar Mitrovic

Signed in August 2023, Mitrovic scored 40 goals in 44 matches last season and has 19 goals in 21 games in 2024-25, including 12 in 12 league outings.

Botafogo

Country: Brazil

Confederation: CONMEBOL

Global Power Ranking: 55

Opta Brazilian Serie A Ranking: 1

How they qualified: 2024 Copa Libertadores winners

Botafogo will make their Club World Cup debut next summer on the back of beating Atletico Mineiro 3-1 in the Copa Libertadores final last month. They hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in the Brazilian top flight, going 42 matches without a loss between 1977 and 1978. They did not win the title in either year, though.

Key Player: Jefferson Savarino

Savarino recorded 12 goals and 13 assists in 52 matches during the 2023-24 season, including three goals in the knockout rounds of the Copa Libertadores.

Palmeiras

Country: Brazil

Confederation: CONMEBOL

Global Power Ranking: 58

Opta Brazilian Serie A Ranking: 2

How they qualified: 2021 Copa Libertadores winners

Palmeiras have featured twice in the Club World Cup, notably taking Chelsea to extra time before losing 2-1 in late 2021. The Brazilian club won one of the first club tournaments involving teams from different continents. The Copa Rio, in 1951, included Austria Vienna, Sporting CP, Juventus and Red Star (Crvena Zvezda). In a two-game final, Palmeiras beat Juventus in one and drew the other to win the title.

Key Player: Estevao Willian

The 17-year-old, who is set to join Chelsea next summer, racked up 18 goals and 12 assists during the 2023-24 season, averaging a goal contribution every 98.6 minutes.

Flamengo

Country: Brazil

Confederation: CONMEBOL

Global Power Ranking: 67

Opta Brazilian Serie A Ranking: 3

How they qualified: 2022 Copa Libertadores winners

One of the most successful South American clubs, Flamengo have made two previous Club World Cup appearances, losing the 2019 final to Liverpool (1-0 after extra time) and finishing third by beating Al Ahly 4-2 in 2023. Flamengo’s full name is Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, meaning “Flamengo Rowing Club,” with the club originally being formed in 1895 as a rowing club and not playing their first football match until 1912.

Key Player: Pedro

Pedro scored 30 times in 43 matches for Flamengo during the 2024 season, guiding them to the Copa do Brasil. He won the golden boot at the 2023 Club World Cup with four goals.

River Plate

Country: Argentina

Confederation: CONMEBOL

Global Power Ranking: 99

Opta Liga Profesional Ranking: 2

How they qualified: CONMEBOL ranking between 2021 and 2024

River Plate have competed twice at the Club World Cup. They made the 2015 final, losing 3-0 to Barcelona, before finishing third in the 2018 edition by beating Kashima Antlers 4-0. They are among the most successful South American clubs with 56 trophies, including 37 league titles.

Key Player: Pablo Solari

Solari, 23, will be one to watch next summer after recording eight goals and five assists in just 27 starts for his club in 2024.

Al Ahly

Country: Egypt

Confederation: CAF

Global Power Ranking: 104

Opta Egyptian Premier League Ranking: 1

How they qualified: 2020-21, 2022-23 and 2023-24 CAF Champions League winners

Al Ahly have enjoyed reasonable success in the Club World Cup, making it to six third-place playoffs (four wins) in nine appearances. They ended last December’s edition in third by beating Urawa Reds 4-2. In the last 18 completed top-flight seasons, Al Ahly have won 15 league titles, with the other three going to their rivals, Zamalek.

Key Player: Wessam Abou Ali

Striker Abou Ali recorded 20 goals and six assists last season and has started this campaign with four goals in seven appearances.

Inter Miami

Country: USA

Confederation: CONCACAF

Global Power Ranking: 114

Opta Major League Soccer Ranking: 3

How they qualified: 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners

On the back of their first league shield, Inter Miami will compete in their first Club World Cup next summer. Founded only in 2018, Miami will be the youngest club at the tournament. In fact, they are about the same age as the youngest of marquee star Lionel Messi’s children, Ciro, born in 2018.

Key Player: Lionel Messi

Messi recorded 20 goals and 10 assists in the 2024 MLS regular season despite playing just 19 matches, averaging a goal contribution every 49.5 minutes. Miami lost only one of those games compared to three of the 15 he missed.

Country: USA

Confederation: CONCACAF

Global Power Ranking: 143

Opta Major League Soccer Ranking: 5

How they qualified: 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winner

This will be Seattle’s second appearance at the Club World Cup, having lost 1-0 to Al Ahly in the 2023 edition. The Sounders are the only MLS club to have ever featured at the Club World Cup.

Key Player: Stefan Frei

Seattle captain Frei has kept 30 clean sheets in MLS over the last two seasons — including the playoffs — more than any other goalkeeper in this period.

Monterrey

Country: Mexico

Confederation: CONCACAF

Global Power Ranking: 144

Opta Liga MX Ranking: 3

How they qualified: 2021 CONCACAF Champions League winners

Monterrey have featured five times in the Club World Cup, finishing third twice (2012 and 2019).

Key Player: Sergio Canales

Former Real Betis stalwart Canales has been Monterrey’s best player since joining in July 2023, recording 22 goals and seven assists in 57 matches.

Red Bull Salzburg

Country: Austria

Confederation: UEFA

Global Power Ranking: 151

Opta Austrian Bundesliga Ranking: 2

How they qualified: UEFA ranking from 2021 to 2024

Red Bull Salzburg have never participated in the Club World Cup. Their best result in Europe over the past decade has been reaching the round of 16 of the Champions League in 2021-22. Domestically, Salzburg won 10 league titles in a row between 2013-14 and 2022-23 but lost out to Sturm Graz last season.

Key Player: Kamil Piatkowski

Salzburg have struggled with injuries this season, but Piatkowski has been ever-present at centre-back and is the only player to have featured in all 25 of their matches across competitions.

Boca Juniors

Country: Argentina

Confederation: CONMEBOL

Global Power Ranking: 155

Opta Liga Profesional Ranking: 5

How they qualified: CONMEBOL ranking between 2021 and 2024

Boca have played in one Club World Cup previously, making the 2008 final, which they lost 4-2 to AC Milan.

They have won the Copa Libertadores on six occasions and remain the only team to have won the tournament without a single loss, having done so in 1978.

Key Player: Edinson Cavani

Former PSG and Manchester United striker Cavani scored 20 times in 38 matches last season, his first at Boca, aged 37.

Fluminense

Country: Brazil

Confederation: CONMEBOL

Global Power Ranking: 166

Opta Brazilian Serie A Ranking: 8

How they qualified: 2023 Copa Libertadores winners

Fluminense’s only Club World Cup appearance came last December as they lost 4-0 to Manchester City in the final. The club’s first president was an Englishman, Oscar Cox, who played a part in founding the club in July 1902. Cox remained in the role until December 1904.

Key Player: Ganso

The former Sevilla midfielder was Fluminense’s chief playmaker in 2024, recording 10 assists and four goals in 51 matches.

Mamelodi Sundowns

Country: South Africa

Confederation: CAF

Global Power Ranking: 218

Opta South African Premiership Ranking: 1

How they qualified: CAF ranking between 2021 and 2024

The Sundowns have featured once in the Club World Cup, losing the 2016 fifth-place playoff 4-1 to Jeonbuk Hyundai. The team also holds the record for the most South African league titles with 17, four ahead of the Kaizer Chiefs in second.

Key Player: Lucas Ribeiro

Ribeiro, 26, has managed seven goals and five assists in under 1,200 minutes of action this season, contributing to more goals than any other Sundowns player.

Esperance de Tunis

Country: Tunisia

Confederation: CAF

Global Power Ranking: 325

Opta Tunisian Ligue Ranking: 1

How they qualified: CAF ranking between 2021 and 2024

Esperance have featured in three Club World Cups, playing in the fifth-place playoff on all three occasions and winning twice. They have the third-most CAF Champions League trophies with four, behind Al Ahly (12), TP Mazembe and Zamalek (five each).

Key Player: Youcef Belaili

The Algerian winger has had a fantastic start to the 2024-25 season, with seven goals and eight assists in 11 matches after joining from MC Alger.

Ulsan HD

Country: South Korea

Confederation: AFC

Global Power Ranking: 360

Opta K League 1 Ranking: 2

How they qualified: AFC ranking between 2021 and 2024

Ulsan have competed in two Club World Cups, losing the fifth-place match on both occasions. Since their most recent appearance in the competition, they have won each of the last three K League 1 titles with at least a five-point buffer over the team in second place.

Key Player: Ataru Esaka

Esaka featured in 43 matches for Ulsan last season, scoring seven times and assisting five more from midfield.

Pachuca

Country: Mexico

Confederation: CONCACAF

Global Power Ranking: 376

Opta Liga MX Ranking: 9

How they qualified: 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners

Pachuca will make their fifth Club World Cup appearance next summer and first since 2017 when they finished third — their best showing in the competition — by beating Al Jazira 4-1. The club were originally known as Pachuca Athletic Club.

Key Player: Salomon Rondon

The former Newcastle United and Everton striker joined Pachuca in January and has scored 25 times in 44 matches.

Urawa Red Diamonds

Country: Japan

Confederation: AFC

Global Power Ranking: 392

Opta J1 League Ranking: 9

How they qualified: 2022 AFC Champions League winners

The Red Diamonds have featured in three Club World Cups, including the 2023 edition when they lost to Al Ahly 4-2 in the third-place playoff. They did finish third in 2007, though, by defeating ES Sahel on penalties. They have won the J1 League just once in 2006 but have lifted the AFC Champions League title on three occasions (2007, 2017 and 2022).

Key Player: Ryoma Watanabe

The 28-year-old winger was the only Urawa player to start all 37 league games in 2024. Watanabe contributed six goals and five assists as well.

Leon

Country: Mexico

Confederation: CONCACAF

Global Power Ranking: 405

Opta Liga MX Ranking: 11

How they qualified: 2023 CONCACAF Champions League winners

Leon featured at the 2023 Club World Cup, losing to Urawa Red Diamonds in the second round. One of the oldest clubs in Mexico, Leon were the first to be conferred the “campeonismo” title awarded to teams that win the league and cup in the same season, doing so in 1949.

Key Player: Stiven Mendoza

Mendoza has provided goals from the left wing, scoring four times in 12 matches since joining from Adana Demirspor in July.

Wydad Casablanca

Country: Morocco

Confederation: CAF

Global Power Ranking: 565

Opta Botola Pro Ranking: 4

How they qualified: 2021-22 CAF Champions League winners

Wydad played in the 2017 and 2022 Club World Cups, losing to Urawa Red Diamonds and Al Hilal in the fifth-place play-off and second round respectively. They have won the Moroccan league a record 22 times, seven more than Union Sportive Marocaine in second, and won three CAF Champions League titles.

Key Player: Pedrinho

The 20-year-old Brazilian has received only 297 minutes of action so far this season but has shown serious potential, scoring once.

Al Ain

Country: United Arab Emirates

Confederation: AFC

Global Power Ranking: 679

Opta UAE Pro League Ranking: 5

How they qualified: 2023-24 AFC Champions League winners

Al Ain will be playing their second Club World Cup next summer, having made the 2018 final, which they lost 4-1 to Real Madrid. They remain the only team from the UAE to win the AFC Champions League, having lifted the title in 2003 and lost in two finals (2005 and 2016) before their success in 2024.

Key Player: Soufiane Rahimi

Rahimi, who has 10 goals in 25 caps for Morocco, was crucial to Al Ain’s latest AFC Champions League success. The 27-year-old scored 13 goals and assisted six more in 13 matches in that tournament.

Auckland City

Country: New Zealand

Confederation: OFC

Global Power Ranking: 4083

Opta New Zealand National League Ranking: 1

How they qualified: Best-ranked OFC Champions League winner between 2021 and 2024

Auckland City are the lowest-ranked team at next year’s Club World Cup, more than 3,000 spots lower than the next-lowest club. They have, however, made more appearances at the tournament than any other team with 11, with their best finish coming in 2014 when they beat Cruz Azul on penalties to finish third.

Key Player: Stipe Ukich

How many of Auckland City’s players will return for next season remains to be seen, but Ukich, who turns 18 next month, impressed, scoring 10 times in 38 matches in all competitions last season.

(Top photos: Getty Images)