FIFA announce 2025 Club World Cup groups as 32 teams learn their opponents for the revamped tournament

Next summer, Chelsea will play Flamengo of Brazil, while Manchester City will play Juventus in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup group stage. In addition to playing Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates in Group G, Pep Guardiola's City, who defeated Brazilian team Fluminense to win the competition for the first time in 2023, will start their title defense against Wydad of Morocco. 

Chelsea, the 2021 final victors, was also placed in Group D with Club Leon of Mexico and Esperance Sportive de Tunisie of Tunisia. Next year, from June 15 to July 13, the United States will host the redesigned FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which has been extended to 32 teams.

The newest Club World Cup trophy has been revealed following a convoluted and drawn-out draw ceremony that took place at two different venues in Miami. Additionally, the first team was drawn by a video greeting from Donald Trump, the future US president, whose daughter Ivanka was included.

The first game, which will be played in Miami, will pit Lionel Messi's Inter Miami against Al Ahly of Egypt at Hard Rock Stadium. In other news, Bayern Munich will play Benfica during another all-European group-stage encounter, while Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid were placed in Group B. 

Who will Real Madrid face in their opening game in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

Twelve European clubs, the most of any confederation, will be among the teams from every one of the six worldwide football confederations that will compete in the event next summer. The UEFA Champions League results from the previous four seasons determined the teams' spots in Europe; recent champions Chelsea, Manchester City, and Real Madrid were assured spots.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates and the elder brother of City owners Sheikh Mansour, is the owner of Al Ain, the most successful team in the country with 14 league titles. The Saudi Pro League winners Al-Hilal, who presently have Neymar on their roster, will be the first opponent for Real Madrid, who won the Fifa Club World Cup title for a record-tying sixth time in 2022.