2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Bragging rights at stake as 4 African teams compete for top prize 

By Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in-Chief, Abuja

The attention of the football faithful across the globe will focus on the first expanded FIFA Club World Cup finals which will kick off in the United States of America (USA) with no fewer than a total of 32 teams competing for the top prize.

This is even as four clubs from Africa will represent the continent in the world greatest club football competition, holding from June 14 to July 13, 2025, in 12 venues across 11 states of the USA. They are African club giants Al Ahly FC of  Egypt; rising powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns of  South Africa; Esperance du  Tunis from Tunisia and Wydad du Casablanca of  Morocco.

Prompt News reports that the 32 clubs participating in the one month of football fiesta are from Asia (AFC); Africa (CAF); North, Central America, and Caribbean (Concacaf); South American Confederation (CONMEBOL); Oceania Confederation (OFC) and Europe (UEFA).

Off the 32 clubs, European teams under the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) umbrella contributed the most clubs with 12 clubs, followed by South America with 6 while North American region produced 5 teams.

The first-ever 32-team FIFA Club World Cup will take place in the USA in 2025, with 12 venues across the nation chosen to host matches.

A total of 63 matches will be played across the United States. 32 teams from six Confederations are competing for glory just as Asia produced four clubs with only one team representing the Oceania zone.

No fewer than 63 matches will be played at the 12 selected venues across the host nation, USA, even as a total prize pot of $1bn is up for grabs, with the champions earning up to $125m. About half of the $1bn will be divided between the 32 clubs, with the amount per club based on sporting and commercial criteria.

However, qualified clubs are Al Ahly FC (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League;  Wydad AC (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League; Espérance (TUN) – CAF ranking pathway and Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA) – CAF ranking pathway.

Others are Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League; Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League;

Al Ain FC (UAE) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League and  Ulsan HD (KOR) – AFC ranking pathway.

From Europe are Chelsea FC (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League; Real Madrid C. F. (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League; Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League; FC Bayern München (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway and Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway.

Also, FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway; FC Porto (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway; SL Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway; Borussia Dortmund (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway; Juventus FC (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway; Atlético de Madrid (ESP) – UEFA ranking pathway and FC Salzburg (AUT) – UEFA ranking pathway.

Taking part in the competition are Confederation of North, Central America and Caribean Association (Concacaf) teams-CF Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup; Seattle Sounders FC (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup and CF Pachuca (MEX) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Also in the mix are Auckland City FC (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway; SE Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores;

CR Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores; Fluminense FC (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores; Botafogo (BRA) – 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores; CA River Plate (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway; CA Boca Juniors (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway; Inter Miami CF (USA) – Host nation slot LAFC (USA) – FIFA Club World Cup Play-In.

All the teams have since discovered their groups thus:

*Group A

SE Palmeiras (BRA)

FC Porto (POR)

Al Ahly FC (EGY)

Inter Miami CF (USA)

*Group B

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Atlético de Madrid (ESP)

Botafogo (BRA)

Seattle Sounders FC (USA)

*Group C

FC Bayern München (GER)

Auckland City FC (NZL)

CA Boca Juniors (ARG)

SL Benfica (POR)

*Group D

CR Flamengo (BRA)

Espérance Sportive de Tunis (TUN)

Chelsea FC (ENG)

Los Angeles FC (USA)

*Group E

CA River Plate (ARG)

Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

CF Monterrey (MEX)

FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)

*Group F

Fluminense FC (BRA)

Borussia Dortmund (GER)

Ulsan HD (KOR)

Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA)

*Group G

Manchester City (ENG)

Wydad AC (MAR)

Al Ain FC (UAE)

Juventus FC (ITA)

*Group H

Real Madrid C. F. (ESP)

Al Hilal (KSA)

CF Pachuca (MEX)

FC Salzburg (AUT).

Furthermore, a total of 12 venues will be used to host the 63 matches which will be played across the United States, with the final to be played at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey and the opening match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

The venues are as follows:

*Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA

*TQL Stadium – Cincinnati, OH

*Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC

*Rose Bowl Stadium – Los Angeles, CA

Hard Rock Stadium – *Miami, FL

GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN

*MetLife Stadium – New York New Jersey

*Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL

*Inter&Co Stadium – Orlando, FL

*Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA

*Lumen Field – Seattle, WA

*Audi Field – Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, the opening match will kick off on Saturday, June 14 June, with a clash between home club, Inter Miami CF, and Africa’s most suitable club, Al Ahly FC of Egypt.