Rules and format of the Club World Cup

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marks a historic shift in global football. For the first time, 32 of the world’s best clubs will compete in a month-long tournament, mirroring the format of the FIFA World Cup for national teams.

The competition kicks off on June 14, 2025, in the United States, with the final scheduled for July 13.

Among the contenders is Juventus, who find themselves in Group G, alongside Manchester City, Al-Ain, and Wydad Casablanca.

Here’s everything you need to know about the format, rules, and structure of this much-anticipated tournament.

Tournament Format

Teams: 32 clubs from all six FIFA confederations

Groups: 8 groups of 4 teams each

Qualification: Top two teams from each group progress to the knockout stage

Knockout Rounds: Round of 16 → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Final

Total Matches: 63

Note: No third-place playoff will be held

The tournament adopts a structure similar to the national FIFA World Cup, with a group stage followed by single elimination rounds.