- Expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup takes place in the United States next summer
- Draw for the 32-team group stage takes place on Thursday
- AI has predicted how the group stage tables may look
All 32 teams competing in the recently revamped and expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup are now known, with each awaiting to discover their group stage foes on Thursday.
The tournament begins with a group stage consisting of eight groups of four clubs, with sides from all six continental confederations competing at next summer's event in the United States.
There are some enormous clubs heading to North America and there's bound to be a number of gargantuan clashes in the group stage and beyond. However, no side from the same confederation (barring UEFA) can face one another before the knockouts and no European sides from the same country can be drawn into the same group.
With help from everyone's favourite AI friend ChatGPT, we've assembled a predicted group stage based on the 32 clubs involved and their seeding ahead of Thursday's actual draw.
Here's how AI manufactured the eight groups.
Predicted Group A
Flamengo were the first name out of AI's hat, with the 2022 Copa Libertadores champions leading the way in Group A. The Brazilian giants are in Pot 1 for the tournament and have been joined by Italian outfit Juventus. Neither side has ever won the competition in its previous state but Flamengo were beaten by Liverpool in the 2019 final.
The duo were placed alongside Morocco's Wydad AC and American side Inter Miami. The latter are guaranteed to be in Group A in real life considering they qualified as tournament hosts and will take part in the tournament opener. Wydad qualified after winning the 2021/22 AFC Champions League.
Club | Pot |
|---|---|
Flamengo (BRA) | 1 |
Juventus (ITA) | 2 |
Wydad AC (MOR) | 3 |
Inter Miami (USA) | 4 |
Predicted Group B
Seattle Sounders, much like their fellow American competitors Inter Miami, will be automatically placed in Group B in the real draw. AI has given the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners a challenging group alongside Manchester City, who won the Club World Cup themselves in 2023 following their historic treble the season prior.
Porto, who missed the chance to win the 2004 Club World Cup due to the competition's cancellation for several years, also appear alongside record 12-time CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly, who are the current holders of Africa's most prestigious club prize.
Club | Pot |
|---|---|
Man City (ENG) | 1 |
Porto (POR) | 2 |
Al Ahly (EGY) | 3 |
Seattle Sounders (USA) | 4 |
Predicted Group C
Group C would not be a classic for the ages but it could throw up a few surprises. Atletico Madrid are the European giants expected to boss such a group but they would face stiff competition from 2021 Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras. Diego Simeone knows all too well the ferocity of South American football.
Monterrey have appeared at five Club World Cups in the past but have never reached the final. Escaping the group stage will be challenge enough for the Mexican outfit at the expanded tournament, a similar situation that Tunisian outfit ES Tunis find themselves in ahead of their fourth appearance at the competition.
Club | Pot |
|---|---|
Palmeiras (BRA) | 1 |
Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 2 |
Monterrey (MEX) | 3 |
ES Tunis (TUN) | 4 |
Predicted Group D
Now this would be a cracking group. Naturally, Bayern Munich and Chelsea would be the sides hogging the headlines, with both having won the European Champions League since the 2019/20 campaign. However, they would have to avoid a potential banana skin in the form of Al Hilal, the current Saudi Pro League champions.
The Middle Eastern side, who finished runners-up in 2022 at the Club World Cup, boast the likes of Neymar, Joao Cancelo and Aleksandar Mitrovic and are led by experienced Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus. Mexican side Pachuca will certainly hope to be a tad more fortunate when it comes to the real draw.
Club | Pot |
|---|---|
Bayern Munich (GER) | 1 |
Chelsea (ENG) | 2 |
Al Hilal (SAU) | 3 |
Pachuca (MEX) | 4 |
Predicted Group E
Inter are the headline act of our AI selected Group E and should waltz to qualification in such a group if they're as lucky when the actual draw takes place. 2023 Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense would pose a threat but the 2023/24 Serie A winners will be hoping for a group this kind on Thursday.
Ulsan HD have appeared at two previous Club World Cups in 2012 and 2020 but that number is dwarfed by New Zealand's Auckland City. They are making a 12th appearance in the competition next summer, although they've rarely managed to make their mark on the big stage.
Club | Pot |
|---|---|
Fluminense (BRA) | 1 |
Inter (ITA) | 2 |
Ulsan HD (KOR) | 3 |
Auckland City (NZL) | 4 |
Predicted Group F
Group F would also be a belter, with a repeat of last season's European Champions League semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund on the cards. It was the German side who triumphed in the last four of Europe's premier competition but both sides are making their debuts at the Club World Cup in 2025.
Reigning Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo are also making their bow having won CONMEBOL's ultimate club prize for the first time in their 123-year history at the beginning of December. Somewhat surprisingly, Mamelodi Sundowns would be the most seasoned Club World Cup competitors, the South African side having appeared previously in 2016.
Club | Pot |
|---|---|
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 1 |
Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 2 |
Botafogo (BRA) | 3 |
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) | 4 |
Predicted Group G
In the most low-key group served up by AI, it's Argentinian giants River Plate and Portuguese side Benfica who are the strongest competitors. The former have finished runners-up once before in 2015 but Benfica have never appeared at the tournament previously and are only entering the 2025 edition due to their four-year UEFA ranking.
Mexican side Leon appeared at the tournament for the first time in 2023 and have another shot next summer. Al Ain, who are the current AFC Champions League holders, are the United Arab Emirates' biggest side and even finished runners-up to Real Madrid at a home Club World Cup in 2018.
Club | Pot |
|---|---|
River Plate (ARG) | 1 |
Benfica (POR) | 2 |
Leon (MEX) | 3 |
Al Ain (UAE) | 4 |
Predicted Group H
Speaking of record five-time world champions Real Madrid, the Spanish giants - who have the chance to win the FIFA Intercontinental Cup (previously the Club World Cup) on 18 December - will be among the favourites for the crown in 2025. They have won all their previous Club World Cup titles in the past ten years following their Champions League dominance in Europe.
RB Salzburg are undoubtedly the weakest side in Pot 2 and would be favourable opponents for any Pot 1 team. Argentina's Boca Juniors, who reached the final in 2007, and Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds would be fairly straightforward opposition for Los Blancos.
Club | Pot |
|---|---|
Real Madrid (SPA) | 1 |
RB Salzburg (AUT) | 2 |
Boca Juniors (ARG) | 3 |
Urawa Red Diamonds (JAP) | 4 |
