The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has been reformatted, expanded and shipped to the United States, with next summer’s tournament marking a new era for the competition.

The battle for world champion status has often been a half-hearted fight for Europe’s giants but the now 32-team competition will raise the stakes for all participants. 12 UEFA clubs will compete with the best and brightest from the five other continental federations, with over a month’s worth of football to played in North America.

The group stage draw has been completed and, regardless of justifiable question marks over the tournament’s renovation, it has thrown up some intriguing and unprecedented duels, with the likes of Real Madrid, Inter, Manchester City and Bayern Munich now knowing their opponents.

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

Inter Miami may be the side that garner most attention in Group A – despite only being included as a host club – but they are unlikely to be one of the top two sides qualifying for the knockout phase. The Herons could very well struggle against some of the world’s most established clubs in their respective continents, potentially finishing rock bottom despite Lionel Messi’s inevitable influence.

This may be one of the few groups in which a non-European team triumphs. Porto are an excellent side and it’s difficult to gauge their level in comparison to clubs they never cross paths with, but 2021 Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras may edge top spot. The Brazilian side finished second in the 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A behind Botafogo having won the title the previous season.

Al Ahly also have a strong chance of reaching the last 16 as defending AFC Champions League winners. 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 big hitters compete in Group B, with Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain battling for top spot. The pair have already locked horns in the 2024/25 Champions League league phase, with a 93rd-minute winner seeing the Spanish side secure victory in the French capital.

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

Unfortunately for Seattle Sounders, they find themselves in the competition’s toughest group, and will be pleased if they can grab any points from their three group stage fixtures. They do have the advantage of playing in familiar territory, though.

Those looking for an upset in Group C are set to be disappointed. It’s extremely likely that Bayern Munich will ease to first place in what should be a routine group for the German giants. Having already beaten Benfica in this year’s Champions League, they will be strong favourites to secure maximum points from their three outings next summer.

Benfica and Boca Juniors are likely to battle for the remaining qualification spot, but it’s hard to look past the Portuguese giants securing second place. Boca are not the force they once were in South America, even if they did reach the Copa Libertadores final last term.

You have to feel for Auckland City, who are making their 12th appearance at the Club World Cup. They are the OFC’s only representative but are unlikely to fly the flag particularly high for the federation. They will be fortunate to secure any points.

Chelsea should make relatively light work of claiming top spot in Group D. The Blues are currently flying under Enzo Maresca and will be considered among the favourites to win the Club World Cup should they maintain their form heading towards the end of the season.

Brazilian behemoths Flamengo will offer a challenge, however, and 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 final in 2021, but they are no longer the dominant force in Brazilian football.

Tunisian outfit ES Tunis and Mexican side Leon will duke it out to avoid fourth place and upset the odds. It may be the former, who are making their fourth appearance at the tournament, who sneak into third.

There can be few question marks over Inter’s position as the standout candidate in Group E. The 2022/23 Champions League finalists and 2023/24 Serie A champions could well lift the title come mid-July and boast a star-studded squad that should have little trouble downing sides from CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and the AFC.

The fight for second place will be intriguing. River Plate, much like rivals Boca, are no longer one of the leading powerhouses of South American football following the resurgence of some of Brazil’s giants, but they have a strong chance of qualifying for the last 16.

Monterrey are arguably CONCACAF’s strongest outfit at present and the Mexican side have plenty of Club World Cup experience. They should finish above Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, who came 13th in the J1 League in 2024.

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

Fluminense are a far cry from the team that won the Copa Libertadores in 2023. They were battling relegation in the Brazilian first division in 2024 and will struggle to best any of their opponents unless they drastically improve.

South Korea’s Ulsan HD and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns should engage in a tantalising battle for second place. It really could go either way but the African side may just secure passage to the knockouts.

Manchester City may be enduring an uncharacteristically sloppy 2024/25 having dominated English football for so long, but the Cityzens will have almost certainly 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 issues, of course, but the Italian side have not made a glowing start to life under Thiago Motta in 2024/25. Where they will be by the time the Club World Cup comes around is unclear but they should still have enough quality to finish ahead of the group’s AFC and CAF representatives.

United Arab Emirates outfit Al Ain are the current AFC Champions League holders and will fancy their chances of causing an upset under former Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim. Moroccan side Wydad AC are a capable team but are unlikely to challenge the top two spots.

Real Madrid and Al Hilal played out a 5-3 thriller in the 2022 Club World Cup final and they will face off again in Group H. Los Blancos will be obvious favourites to top the standings – and potentially win the tournament – but they will be tested by an Al Hilal side who were Saudi Pro League champions in 2023/24 and boast the likes of Neymar, Joao Cancelo and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Al Hilal could be the side outside of Europe that make it furthest in the 2025 Club World Cup, even if they don’t win their group. Jorge Jesus’ side boast some excellent footballers throughout their team and may be the hipster’s choice for a potential upset.

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

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