Mamelodi Sundowns are among the 32 teams that will participate in the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup that will be held from June 14-July 13 in the United States.
The Brazilians are one of four African countries that will feature at the tournament, the other ones being Al Ahly of Egypt, Esperance of Tunisia and Rulani Mokwena’s Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club.
It will be a tough competition for the African teams given European giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Juventus are among the participating teams.
How many teams are at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will have 32 teams with Europe having the biggest representation with 12, six from South America, and four each from Africa, Asia and CONCACAF (North and Central America, Caribbean).
Oceania will provide one team, while the United States as host nation has an additional slot, having been given to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
The 32 teams are:
Manchester City (ENG), Real Madrid (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Flamengo (BRA), SE Palmeiras (BRA), River Plate (ARG), Fluminense FC (BRA).
Chelsea FC (ENG), Borussia Dortmund (GER), FC Inter Milan (ITA), FC Porto (POR), Atletico de Madrid (ESP), Benfica (POR), Juventus FC (ITA), FC Salzburg (AUT)
Al Hilal (KSA), Ulsan HD (KOR), Al Ahly FC (EGY), Wydad AC (MAR), CF Monterrey (MEX), Club Leon (MEX), CA Boca Juniors (ARG), Botafogo (BRA)
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN), Al Ain FC (UAE), Espérance Sportive de Tunisie (TUN), Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA), CF Pachuca (MEX), Seattle Sounders FC (USA), Auckland City FC (NZL), Inter Miami CF (USA)
Who are Mamelodi Sundowns facing at FIFA Club World Cup?
Mamelodi Sundowns are in a tricky Group F that has German giants Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD from South Korea and Brazilian side Fluminense.
Sundowns will begin their group stage campaign against Ulsan on June 17 at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida before a Borussia Dortmund test on June 21 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati and complete with a meeting with Fluminense on June 25 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup Groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
Group B: Paris St-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Benfica, Boca Juniors
Group D: Flamengo, Chelsea, Club Leon, Esperance de Tunis
Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, CF Monterrey, Inter Milan
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad AC, Al Ain FC, Juventus
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, CF Pachuca, FC Salzburg
2025 FIFA Club World Cup Format
The Club World Cup will use the format used by the World Cup between 1998 and 2022 with the 32 teams divided into eight groups of four who play round robin in the first phase.
The top two in each group advance to the last 16, with the tournament using a single-match knockout format through to the final. There will be no third-place playoff.
When & Where will 2025 FIFA Club World Cup be played?
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025 and will be staged across 12 stadiums in 11 host cities with 63 matches on show.
Miami's Hard Rock Stadium will host the opening game of the tournament, while the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey/New York will stage the final.
How much will be paid to 2025 FIFA Club World Cup teams?
FIFA has set aside a $1 billion total pool as prize money to be awarded to all the 32 participating teams.
All qualified teams from Africa at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will each pocket $9.55 million (R174 million). Sundowns are guaranteed this amount even if they lose all their group stage matches.
European teams will receive between $12.81 and $38.19 million, the highest, South American teams will get $15.21 million, Asian sides pocketing the same as African teams, being $9.55 million, while Oceania outfits will be given $3.58 million as participation fee.
There is an extra $2 million (R36 million) bonus for every group stage win per team while a draw will attract a $1 million (R18 million) bonus.
Teams that reach the Round of 16 will each get $7.5 million (R137 million), $13.125 million (R237 million) for quarter-finalists, $21 million (R383 million) for each of the four semi-finalists, while runners-ups get $30 million (R547 million) as winners pocket $40 million (R729 million).
