The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marks a historic expansion to 32 teams, hosted across 11 cities in the United States from June 14 to July 13. With the group stage concluding on June 26, the tournament has delivered high drama, upsets, and emerging storylines as clubs battle for a place in the knockout rounds. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the current group stage situation, key results, qualification scenarios, and what to expect next.
Tournament Format and Structure
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32 teams divided into eight groups (A–H), each containing four teams.
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Top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 16.
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Group stage runs from June 14 to June 26.
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Knockout rounds begin June 28, culminating in the final on July 13.
Group-by-Group Analysis and Standings
Group A
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GD | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmeiras | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 7 | Qualified |
| Inter Miami | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 7 | Qualified |
| FC Porto | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 | Eliminated |
| Al Ahly SC | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -2 | 2 | Eliminated |
Key Storylines:
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Palmeiras edged Inter Miami for top spot on goal difference, both advancing unbeaten.
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Porto and Al Ahly, despite competitive outings, failed to secure a win and are out.
Group B
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GD | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +5 | 6 | Qualified |
| Botafogo | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 6 | Qualified |
| Atlético Madrid | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 6 | Eliminated |
| Seattle Sounders | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -7 | 0 | Eliminated |
Key Storylines:
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PSG topped the group despite a shock defeat to Botafogo.
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Botafogo’s win over PSG was the tournament’s biggest upset, propelling them into the knockouts.
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Atlético Madrid, despite matching points, lost out on tiebreakers.
Group C
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GD | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benfica | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +6 | 7 | Qualified |
| Bayern Munich | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +10 | 6 | Qualified |
| Boca Juniors | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -4 | 2 | Eliminated |
| Auckland City | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -15 | 1 | Eliminated |
Key Storylines:
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Benfica stunned Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final group match to top the group.
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Bayern’s earlier dominant win set a tournament record, but their loss to Benfica cost them first place.
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Boca Juniors, despite heavy attacking stats, were held to a draw by Auckland City and are out.
Group D
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GD | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flamengo | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 | Qualified |
| Chelsea | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 6 | Qualified |
| ES Tunis | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 3 | Eliminated |
| LAFC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 1 | Eliminated |
Key Storylines:
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Flamengo’s consistency secured them top spot.
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Chelsea advanced after a decisive 3-0 win over ES Tunis.
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LAFC’s campaign ended without a win.
Group E
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GD | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Plate | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 | In Progress |
| Inter Milan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 | In Progress |
| Monterrey | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | In Progress |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 | In Progress |
Key Storylines:
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Group E remains open with one round left.
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River Plate and Inter Milan are favorites to progress, but Monterrey can still qualify depending on final results.
Group F
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GD | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluminense | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 | In Progress |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 | In Progress |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | In Progress |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 | In Progress |
Key Storylines:
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Fluminense and Dortmund lead, but Mamelodi Sundowns could still disrupt the top two.
Group G
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GD | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juventus | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +8 | 6 | Qualified |
| Manchester City | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +8 | 6 | Qualified |
| Wydad AC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 0 | Eliminated |
| Al Ain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -11 | 0 | Eliminated |
Key Storylines:
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Both Juventus and Manchester City qualified with a game to spare.
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Wydad AC and Al Ain are eliminated.
Group H
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GD | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 | In Progress |
| Salzburg | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 | In Progress |
| Al Hilal | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | In Progress |
| Pachuca | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 | In Progress |
Key Storylines:
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Real Madrid and Salzburg are in pole position but Al Hilal can still qualify with the right results in the final round.
Key Results and Upsets
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Botafogo’s win over PSG: The Brazilian side’s shock victory over the French giants was the group stage’s biggest upset, reshaping Group B’s outcome and sending Botafogo through as runners-up.
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Benfica toppling Bayern Munich: Despite Bayern’s earlier record-setting win, Benfica’s 1-0 victory in the final group match saw them leapfrog the German champions to finish top of Group C.
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Auckland City’s resilience: The New Zealand club held Boca Juniors to a draw, defying expectations and denying the Argentine giants a chance at progression.
Knockout Stage Matchups (Confirmed So Far)
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Palmeiras vs. Botafogo
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PSG vs. Inter Miami
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Benfica vs. Chelsea
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Flamengo vs. Bayern Munich
Other matchups will be confirmed as remaining group games conclude.
Qualification Scenarios and Tiebreakers
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Top two teams from each group advance.
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If teams are tied on points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
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Head-to-head points among tied teams
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Head-to-head goal difference
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Head-to-head goals scored
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Overall goal difference
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Overall goals scored
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Fair play points (yellow/red cards)
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Drawing of lots by FIFA
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What’s Next?
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Final group matches will determine the last few spots in the Round of 16, with Groups E, F, and H still open.
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The knockout stage begins June 28, with high-profile clashes such as PSG vs. Inter Miami and Flamengo vs. Bayern Munich already set to capture global attention.
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Potential for more upsets remains, as several groups are still tightly contested going into their final fixtures.
Conclusion
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage has delivered on its promise of excitement, unpredictability, and world-class football. With traditional powerhouses facing stiff competition from emerging clubs and surprise results shaking up the brackets, the race for the world title is wide open. As the final group matches play out, all eyes are on the USA as the tournament heads into its decisive knockout phase
