Clubs participating in next summer’s Club World Cup will be required to bring their strongest squads and field their best teams.

FIFA’s expanded 32-team tournament is scheduled to take place in the United States from 15 June to 13 July 2025.

Manchester City and Chelsea are the only English teams set to participate, and FIFA’s regulations will prevent clubs from excusing any players from the tournament, even after a demanding domestic and European season.

In a further move to ensure the strongest squads are available, FIFA will allow the member associations of all participating clubs to open their transfer windows from 1 to 10 June 2025, enabling new signings to be registered before the tournament begins on 15 June.

Clubs will also be able to replace players during a restricted in-competition period from 27 June to 3 July, subject to specific limitations, including the requirement that a “standard” registration window must be open for the club at the time.

Players whose contracts expire on 30 June 2025 will be permitted to extend their deals until 13 July in order to participate in the entire tournament. For instance, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne could benefit from this special dispensation should he not extend his contract by then.

Additionally, the regulations will stipulate that no player can represent more than one team during the Club World Cup.

Participation in the tournament will not count towards the rules limiting the number of clubs a player can represent to a maximum of three in one season. There will also be no requirement for clubs to release players for international duty during the competition.

These new regulations were agreed upon during the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on Thursday. FIFA aims to ensure that the best players are available for the tournament and believes that these rules will create a level playing field for all participating clubs.

Meanwhile, European clubs are in discussions regarding proposals for the top leagues to close their summer transfer windows simultaneously before their seasons commence in mid-August.

What is the Club World Cup?

Prior to its revamp for the 2025 tournament, the Club World Cup took place annually in December and featured the winners of continental club competitions from across the globe.

For example, the UEFA Champions League winners would participate each year, competing against continental champions from South America (CONMEBOL), Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North America (CONCACAF), and Oceania (OFC).

However, in December, FIFA announced the competition’s expansion to 32 clubs and its transition to a quadrennial event.

To replace the annual competition, an Intercontinental Cup will be held annually, where the UEFA Champions League winners will face a team that advances from intercontinental playoffs.

How does the tournament work?

The format mirrors the FIFA World Cup but is exclusively for clubs.

The 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage.

The tournament will then progress through the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final, with no third-place play-off for the two losing semi-finalists.

When is the draw?

The draw for the 2025 Club World Cup will take place in December 2024.

Who is participating in the 2025 Club World Cup?

Europe

• Manchester City

• Real Madrid

• Chelsea

• Bayern Munich

• Paris Saint-Germain

• Inter Milan

• Porto

• Benfica

• Borussia Dortmund

• Juventus

• Red Bull Salzburg

• Atletico Madrid

Oceania

• Auckland City

South America

• Palmeiras

• Flamengo

• Fluminense

• River Plate

• Boca Juniors

• TBD (based on the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores)

North America

• Monterrey

• Seattle Sounders

• Leon

• Pachuca

• TBC (host nation slot)

Africa

• Al Ahly

• Wydad

• Esperance de Tunis

• Mamelodi Sundowns

Asia

• Al Hilal

• Urawa Red Diamonds

• Al Ain

• Ulsan Hyundai