FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Results, Matches, and Live Standings
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, officially named the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, is a historic milestone in global football. For the first time, the tournament unites 32 teams from all continental confederations, held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. Featuring four Brazilian clubs—Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo—the competition has captured widespread attention from fans. This article details key matches, results, memorable moments, and the updated live standings table, offering a comprehensive overview of the tournament’s developments.
Format of the 2025 Club World Cup
The 2025 Club World Cup mirrors the FIFA World Cup for national teams. The 32 teams are split into eight groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 16, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and the grand final on July 13, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. There is no third-place match, with gold and silver medals awarded only to the finalists. All clubs receive a commemorative plaque and participation certificates.
How Teams Qualified
Qualification criteria differ by confederation. In Europe, winners of the UEFA Champions League from 2021 to 2024 (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and another club from 2024) earned spots, alongside high-ranked continental teams. In South America, Palmeira, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Boca Juniors (Libertadores winners from 2021 to 2024) are included, along with River Plate and Botafogo, selected via CONMEBOL ranking. Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, represents the host nation, while other continents sent champions and ranked clubs, such as Al-Hilal (Asia), Al-Ahly (Africa), and Auckland City (Oceania).
Key Matches and Notable Results
The 2025 Club World Cup kicked off with electrifying matches, with Brazilian clubs demonstrating strength while facing challenges. Below are the key games up to June 2025, based on available information.
Group A: Palmeiras and Inter Miami in the Spotlight
Group A delivered fierce contests, with Palmeiras debuting against Porto and Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, taking on Al-Ahly.
- Palmeiras 2 x 0 Al-Ahly** (06/15/2025, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey): Verdão started on the right foot, defeating the African powerhouse with goals from Flaco López and an own goal. The victory, Palmeiras leads the group with four points after two matches, needing only a draw to secure a spot in the round of 16.
- Inter Miami 2 x 1 Porto (06/15/2025, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami): Messi’s team opened the tournament with a thrilling victory. The Argentine superstar scored a goal and provided an assist, underscoring why Inter Miami is a group favorite.
Group B: Botafogo Shines Against Giants
Botafogo, Rio’s representative, faced formidable opponents like PSG and Atlético de Madrid but displayed competitiveness.
- Botafogo 1 x 0 PSG (06/15/2025, Lumen Field, Seattle): Fogão shocked the world by defeating PSG with a late goal. A robust defense and swift counterattacks earned three points.
- Atlético de Madrid 1 x 0 Botafogo (06/24/2025): Despite a 1-0 loss, with Griezmann scoring in the 87th minute, Botafogo remains tied with PSG and Atlético de Madrid at six points each atop the group.
Group C: Bayern Munich Dominates
Bayern Munich, led by Jamal Musiala, has been a dominant force, boasting the tournament’s best attack with 12 goals in two matches and.
- Benfica Munich 1 x 3 Bayern (06/24/2025): Bayern won comfortably, with Musiala scoring twice. Benfica, despite Di María’s presence, couldn’t withstand the German side’s intensity.
- Boca Juniors 2 x 2 Auckland City (06/24/2025): Boca Juniors, without Cavani, faltered against Auckland City but remains in contention for qualification.
Group D: Flamengo Takes the Lead
Flamengo, with a star-studded roster, is a favorite to advance to the round of 16.
- Flamengo 3 x 1 Espérance (06/16/2025, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia): The Rubro-Negro won authoritatively, with their attackers shining. Flamengo is the first club to qualify for the knockout stage, delivering the best performance among Brazilian teams.
- Chelsea 2 x 0 Los Angeles FC (06/25/2025): Chelsea, featuring Andrey Santos, secured a win and remains in contention for the group lead.
Group E: Inter Milan and River Plate Excel
Group E has produced balanced matches, with Inter Milan and River Plate showcasing strength.
- Inter Milan 2 x 1 Urawa Red Diamond (06/22/2025): Inter clinched a win with a stoppage-time goal, taking the group lead temporarily.
- River Plate 3 x 1 Urawa Red (06/18/2025): The Argentine side dominated, scoring three goals in the second half to solidify their position.
Group F: Fluminense in a Tight Race
Fluminense has experienced ups and downs but remains in the fight for qualification.
- Fluminense 4 x 2 Ulsan Hyundai (06/22/2025, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey): In a thrilling match, Flu staged a comeback with goals from Árias, Nonato, Freytes, and Keno, securing a vital victory. The 4-2 scoreline bolstered Fluminense’s group standing.
- Mamelodi Sundowns 3 x 4 Dortmund (06/22/2025): Borussia Dortmund won a seven-goal thriller, maintaining their group lead.
Group G: Manchester City Unstoppable
Manchester City, the current world champions, remains unbeaten with the tournament’s best defense (zero goals conceded).
- Manchester City 3 x 0 Al Ain (06/26/2025): Pep Guardiola’s side dominated, scoring 15 goals in just two matches.
- Juventus 1 x 1 Wydad Athletic (06/26/2025): Juventus stumbled but remains in the qualification race.
Group H: Real Madrid Chasing the Title
Real Madrid, with its storied legacy, is a top contender for the title.
- Real Madrid 3 x 1 Pachuca (06/27/2025): The Spanish giants won comfortably, drawing the tournament’s largest crowd so far.
- Salzburg 2 x 2 Al-Hilal (06/27/2025): The draw keeps the group competitive, with Al-Hilal still in contention.
Memorable Moments of the Tournament
The 2025 Club World Cup has delivered unforgettable moments. Inter Miami’s debut, with Messi shining, was a highlight of the opening. Fluminense’s comeback against Ulsan Hyundai, scoring four goals in a thrilling match, also captivated fans. Additionally, the expulsion of Asencio from Atlético de Madrid six minutes into their match against Pachuca shifted the game’s momentum, yet the Spanish side secured a 3-1 victory.
Individual Standouts
- Jamal Musiala (Bayern): The young midfielder leads the tournament in goals, with three in two matches.
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami): The Argentine star remains pivotal, contributing goals and assists in the opener.
- Keno (Fluminense): The Brazilian forward scored the winning goal in a dramatic comeback against Ulsan.
Live Standings Table
Below is the updated standings table as of June 24, 2025, based on available results. Teams in bold have qualified for the round of 16.
| Group | Team | Points | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Palmeiras | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Inter Miami | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Porto | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Al-Ahly | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| B | PSG | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Botafogo | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Atlético de Madrid | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| Seattle Sounders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | |
| C | Bayern Munich | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Boca Juniors | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Benfica | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| Auckland City | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| D | Flamengo | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
| Los Angeles FC | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Espérance | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| E | Inter Milan | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| River Plate | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
| Monterrey | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Urawa Red Diamond | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| F | Dortmund | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| Fluminense | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| G | Manchester City | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Juventus | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Wydad Athletic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Al Ain | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| H | Real Madrid | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Al-Hilal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Salzburg | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Pachuca | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Note: The table reflects results up to 06/24/2025, based on reliable sources.
Path to the Knockout Stage
As the group stage nears its conclusion (06/26/2025), qualification scenarios are becoming clearer. Flamengo has already secured a spot in the round of 16, while Palmeiras, Fluminense, and Botafogo are favorites to advance. The knockout bracket is predetermined: the 1st-placed team from Group A faces the 2nd-placed team from Group B, the 1st from Group B faces the 2nd from Group A, and so on. The round of 16 begins on June 28, with quarterfinals on July 4 and 5, semifinals on July 8 and 9, and the final on July 13.
Where to Watch and Coverage
In Brazil, CazéTV broadcasts over half of the matches, including all those involving Brazilian teams. Globo Esporte and Flashscore provide live coverage with lineups, statistics, and real-time commentary. For fans seeking detailed schedules, Estadão offers a complete tournament table in PDF format with dates, times, and venues.
Impact of the 2025 Club World Cup
The tournament is a landmark for FIFA, aiming to rival the World Cup for national teams. With a 24-karat gold-plated trophy and prize money totaling around R$6 billion, the competition has drawn global interest. Additionally, the introduction of body cameras for referees, announced by Pierluigi Collina, promises a new perspective for fans.
Conclusion
The 2025 Club World Cup is delivering on its promise: thrilling matches, standout performances, and a high-level global competition. Brazilian clubs, led by Flamengo and Palmeiras, have shown strength, while giants like Bayern, Manchester City, and Real Madrid confirm their favoritism. As the group stage concludes, fans eagerly await the knockout phase, which promises even more excitement. Follow the upcoming matches and cheer for your team toward the world title!
