Prediction of the final classification of each group

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has been revamped, expanded and sent to the United States, with next summer’s tournament ushering in a new era for the competition.

The battle for world champion status has often been a half-hearted struggle for the European giants, but now Competition of 32 teams will raise the stakes for all participants. 12 UEFA clubs will compete against the best and brightest from the other five continental confederations, with more than a month of football to play in North America.

The group stage draw has been completed and, regardless of justified question marks over the renewal of the tournament, has produced intriguing and unprecedented duels, with Real Madrid, Inter, Manchester City and Bayern Munich now knowing their opponents.

Here are some early predictions of how each of the eight groups might play out.

Inter Miami may be the most eye-catching team in Group A, despite only being included as the host club, but is unlikely to be one of the top two teams qualified for the knockout stage. The Herons could very well struggle against some of the world’s more established clubs on their respective continents, potentially finishing bottom despite the inevitable influence of Lionel Messi.

This may be one of the few groups in which a non-European team wins. Porto are an excellent team and it is difficult to measure their level against clubs they never meet, but Palmeiras, champions of the Copa Libertadores 2021, can be the first place. The Brazilian side finished second in the 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A behind Botafogo after winning the title the previous season.

Al Ahly also have a good chance of reaching the last 16 as the defending champions of the AFC Champions League. The Egyptian giants have won the continent’s top prize in three of the last four years and are Africa’s most dominant force.

Two of UEFA’s biggest hitters compete in Group B, with Atlético de Madrid i Paris Saint-Germain fighting for first place. The pair have already locked horns at the 2024/25 Champions League stage, with a 93rd-minute winner seeing the Spanish side secure victory in the French capital.

However, there is no guarantee that both sides will qualify for the knockout rounds. Botafogo won their first Copa Libertdaores title in 2024 and also achieved first place in the Brazilian first division. They are one of the sides that Europe’s elite will have to keep a close eye on and Artur Jorge’s men could spring a few surprises.

Unfortunately for the Seattle Sounders, they find themselves the toughest group in the competitionand they will be delighted if they get any points from their three group stage games. However, they have the advantage of playing in familiar territory.

Those looking for an upset in Group C will be disappointed. It is very likely that this Bayern Munich will facilitate top spot in what should be a routine group for the German giants. Having beaten Benfica in this year’s Champions League, they will be heavy favorites to take maximum points from their three outings next summer.

Benfica and Boca Juniors are likely to battle it out for the remaining qualifying spot, but it’s hard to look past the Portuguese giants who secure second place. Boca is not the force it was in South America, despite reaching the final of the Copa Libertadores last season.

You have to feel for Auckland City, who are making their 12th Club World Cup appearance. They are the sole representative of the OFC, but are unlikely to fly the flag particularly high for the federation. They will be lucky to get any points.

Chelsea should make relatively light work of topping Group D. The Blues are currently flying under Enzo Maresca and will be considered among the favorites to win the Club World Cup if they maintain their form heading into the end of the season.

Brazilian giants Flamengo will provide a challenge, however, as they are currently coached by former Chelsea left-back Filipe Luis. They have won two of the last six Copa Libertadores titles and were also beaten in the 2021 final, but they are no longer the dominant force in Brazilian football.

Tunisian side ES Tunis and Mexican side León will go head-to-head to avoid fourth place and upset the odds. It could be the former, who are making their fourth appearance in the tournament, who slip into third.

There may be few question marks Interthe position as an outstanding candidate in group E. The finalists of the Champions League 2022/23 i Serie A champions 2023/24 They could lift the title in mid-July and have a stellar squad that should have no trouble defeating CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and AFC teams.

The fight for second place will be intriguing. River Plate, like their rivals Boca, are no longer one of the main powers in South American football after the resurgence of some of the Brazilian giants, but they have a good chance of qualifying for the last 16.

Monterrey is arguably the strongest team in CONCACAF at the moment and the Mexican side has plenty of Club World Cup experience. They should finish above Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, who finished 13th in the J1 League in 2024.

Like several European teams competing in next summer’s tournament, the 2023/24 Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund should walk into Group F. The German side are an inconsistent force under Nuri Sahin but have too much quality for their group stage opponents.

Fluminense are a long way from the team that won the Copa Libertadores in 2023. They were fighting for relegation to the Brazilian first division in 2024 and will struggle to surpass any of their opponents if they don’t improve dramatically.

South Korea’s Ulsan HD and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns should be involved in a tantalizing battle for second place. It could really go either way, but the African side can only secure passage to the knockouts.

Manchester City They may be enduring an unusually sloppy 2024/25 after dominating English football for so long, but the Cityzens will almost certainly have found their feet by the time next summer’s tournament kicks off in June. They should finish top of Group G if they rediscover their best form.

Juventus will cause them problems, of course, but the Italian side have not made a brilliant start to life under Thiago Motta in 2024/25. It is unclear where they will be when the Club World Cup arrives, but they should still have enough quality to finish ahead of the AFC and CAF representatives in the group.

United Arab Emirates side Al Ain are the reigning AFC Champions League champions and will have a chance of causing an upset under former Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim. Morocco’s Wydad AC is a capable team, but unlikely to challenge for the top two spots.

Real Madrid i Al Hilal played out a 5-3 thriller in the 2022 Club World Cup final and will face each other again in Group H. Whites will be clear favorites to top the standings – and potentially win the tournament – but will be tested by an Al Hilal. team that was Saudi Pro League champion in 2023/24 and features players like Neymar, Joao Cancelo and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Al Hilal could be the non-European side to go the furthest at the 2025 Club World Cup, even if they don’t win their group. Jorge Jesus’ team has some excellent footballers throughout their squad and could be the hipster’s choice for a potential upset.

Unfortunately for Austria’s RB Salzburg and Mexico’s Pachuca, Group H is unlikely to be fruitful. They may struggle to avoid last place next summer and are unlikely to cause much trouble for Madrid and Al Hilal.

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