Power Ranking All 32 Teams at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
The revamped Club World Cup begins on Saturday, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino finally unleashing his newly formulated world football behemoth.
What was once a meeting of the seven teams that won their respective confederation's top continental club award from the previous season has now ballooned to 32 entrants representing those governing bodies.
It's the latest in FIFA's attempts to refresh the global football landscape. Whether that shake-up is needed (or wanted) is a discussion for another time.
It should be a fun four weeks, though, with unique matchups between clubs that have never met, players suiting up for new teams for the first time, and a host of stars ready to strut their stuff on a fresh stage.
Ahead, let's rank the 32 teams that will be putting on a show at various venues across the United States until July 13.
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32. Wydad AC
Wydad are the most successful side in the Botola Pro history, having won the Moroccan league 22 times.
They haven't won the domestic title since the 2021-22 season, though, and qualified for the Club World Cup due to their 2022 CAF Champions League title win.
Of all the groups in the Club World Cup, Manchester City and Juventus just had to stroll into the Casablanca sides'. That doesn't look great for them. Here's looking at you, Wydad.
31. Espérance de Tunis
The most decorated team in the Tunisian top flight sealed qualification thanks to their high CAF ranking.
They have featured in three Club World Cups before but never finished higher than fifth place.
With Flamengo, LAFC and Chelsea in their group, it's going to be tough for the Red and Yellow to make an impression.
30. Urawa Red Diamonds
Despite just one J League title in their history, the Urawa Red Diamonds have clinched the AFC Champions League on three occasions, most recently in 2022, which earned them passage to the Club World Cup.
A J1 League title looks far from likely at this stage of the season, with the Red Diamonds lingering down in third with a couple of games in hand on most teams.
Still, with an interesting group that features Monterrey, River Plate and Internazionale, they might fancy a win on the big stage, which is where they seem most comfortable.
29. Seattle Sounders
An inspired run to the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League title has allowed the Seattle Sounders to perform in their home country for the Club World Cup.
For the MLS side, though, not a lot of other success has been achieved in the last four years, with a semifinal place in the league's playoffs last season about as good as it gets.
With Botafogo, Atlético de Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in their group, avoiding embarrassment will be top of the agenda.
28. Al Ahly
Two-time reigning Egyptian Premier League champions Al Ahly secured their spot in the Club World Cup thanks to their recent success in the CAF Champions League, which they won in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
They lost out to the Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2024-25 edition of the continental competition, though, dropping them down these rankings.
They'll meet Palmeiras, Porto and Inter Miami in a fascinating Group A.
27. Mamelodi Sundowns
The South African side just won their eighth consecutive domestic title and were the winners of the inaugural African Football League in 2023. Bafana Ba Style were also runners-up in the 2024-25 CAF Champions League.
They featured in the 2016 Club World Cup under the previous format, losing their only game to finish sixth. Things won't go much better for the Sundowns in the U.S.
26. Ulsan
Three-time defending K-League champions Ulsan are a little off the pace in the 2025 campaign, sitting third behind Jeonbuk and Daejeon Hana in first and second, respectively.
They're heading to the U.S. via the AFC ranking pathway, and they've landed in a group with Mamelodi Sundowns, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund.
They'll be targeting three points against the South African side, but they won't find much joy against the Brazilian and German outfits.
25. Auckland City
The New Zealanders are the reigning National League champions and the most successful side in the division's history.
They've won the OFC Champions League in each of the last four years and 13 times since 2006.
Unfortunately, that winning mentality won't be enough against Benfica, Boca Juniors and Bayern Munich.
24. Al Ain
Al Ain have scooped the UAE Pro League title 14 times in their history, more than any other club. However, they have not taken the top prize since 2021-22, and they're languishing down in fifth this season.
A 2023-24 AFC Champions League win got them a berth in the Club World Cup, where they will face Wydad, Manchester City and Juventus.
Picking up a point or three against Wydad looks like their best chance of success in the U.S.
23. LAFC
LAFC have achieved an awful lot despite being in existence for just over 10 years.
The Black and Gold have claimed the MLS Cup, two Supporters' Shields and the U.S. Open Cup in that time, and now they'll get to show what they've got to a global audience.
They got into the Club World Cup with a stroke of luck, with Club León having to withdraw because of multi-club ownership rules. LAFC got the better of Club América in a playoff to earn the vacant CONCACAF spot.
The prize? Meetings against Chelsea, Flamengo and Espérance, against whom they'll be hoping to spring a surprise.
22. Monterrey
Monterrey have stepped out of the Mexican league shadows in the 21st century, winning three Apertura titles and one Clausura and finishing runners-up in those contests six times (four Apertura, two Clausura).
But they've really shone in the CONCACAF Champions League, winning the tournament five times since 2010.
Their 2021 victory put them into the Club World Cup, where they'll hope their international form will carry them to a couple of big wins.
21. Boca Juniors
Argentina's Boca Juniors need little introduction, but they only entered the Club World Cup thanks to their standing in the CONMEBOL rankings.
Silverware has been relatively elusive for the storied club in the last five seasons by their lofty standards, with only one Primera Division cup, one Copa de la Liga trophy and one Supercopa Argentina title entering the cabinet.
But Manchester United fans might be giving the club some attention in the States, with former players Sergio Romero, Ander Herrera and Edinson Cavani suiting up for the Azul y Oro.
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20. River Plate
Following Boca is another Argentine side that entered the tournament via their confederation's rankings.
River Plate might have two Primera Division titles in the last four seasons, but they haven't tasted continental success since 2018.
Still, they remain the most successful domestic side in the nation's history.
Former West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini now wears the famous red and black shirt, and he'll be key in guiding the club past Monterrey and Urawa Red Diamonds and into the knockout phase.
19. Botafogo
Up until Club León's expulsion from the competition, Botafogo were the last team to qualify for the Club World Cup after winning the 2024 Copa Libertadores.
The side from Rio de Janeiro also picked up the Brazilian Série A title that year, making it a memorable 12 months for a side that last won a major trophy in 2018.
Unfortunately, landing in a group featuring Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid doesn't offer a lot of hope for progressing much further in the United States.
18. RB Salzburg
Perhaps one of the more curious entries to the Club World Cup is RB Salzburg, with the Austrian side earning a place via UEFA's ranking pathway.
Despite dominating the domestic league for the best part of the last 20 years, they haven't won the Austrian Bundesliga title for the last two years, and they have no European titles to speak of.
Curious, indeed.
But here they are. However, a group featuring the mighty Real Madrid and a clutch of stars at Al Hilal isn't going to be forgiving, while Pachuca will also fancy their chances.
17. Pachuca
After a historic 2024 campaign that delivered the FIFA Challenger Cup, the Derbi das Americas, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Pachuca will enter the Club World Cup as an interesting proposition.
They've grown accustomed to beating teams from outside of Mexico, and they'll be intent on repeating the trick against Real Madrid, Al Hilal and RB Salzburg.
Former Everton and Newcastle United striker Salomón Rondón, 35, is still a handful up front, and he'll be more than willing to bully unsuspecting defenders as the Tuzos seek a few upsets.
16. Porto
Despite having some historic European pedigree, you can file Porto's entry in the Club World Cup in the same category as RB Salzburg's.
The side from the north of Portugal apparently earned their spot in the tournament thanks to their performances in the Champions League from 2021 to 2024, giving them enough ranking points from UEFA.
Those performances got them no further than the round of 16, and Os Dragoēs didn't even qualify from the group stage in 2021-22.
Porto are dropping further and further back from the Primeira Liga's capital sides, Benfica and Sporting CP, and they don't seem much of a threat when looking at the other teams.
But in a group with Inter Miami, Al Ahly and Palmeiras, the round of 16 beckons. However, like in the Champions League, they probably won't get much further.
15. Fluminense
Fluminense have happy memories of the Club World Cup. In its previous format, the Brazilians finished as runners-up in 2023, losing to Manchester City in the final after toppling Al Ahly in the semis.
They're in this year's new-fangled edition thanks to a 2023 Copa Libertadores win, and in a group featuring Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, and Mamelodi Sundowns, they'll have every expectation of qualifying for the knockout stages.
With Thiago Silva marshalling things at the back, there is a true footballing pedigree that can make that job a little easier.
14. Flamengo
The Filipe Luis-led Flamengo have acted quickly in the transfer market to prepare for the Club World Cup, with the coach bringing in Jorginho after the 33-year-old's contract with Arsenal expired.
Luis has been a revelation in the dugout, delivering the Copa do Brasil, the Supercopa do Brasil and the Campeonato Carioca in less than a year.
In a fun quirk of the draw, Luis and Jorginho will be up against former club Chelsea in Group D, which they'll expect to qualify from.
13. Inter Miami
Thanks to some star power in the boardroom and on the pitch, Inter Miami have quickly cultivated popularity among MLS fans.
Having perhaps the best player of all time on your books is definitely helpful.
Lionel Messi will be a marquee attraction at the Club World Cup, while Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will draw some eyeballs, too.
But it's the GOAT who everyone will be wanting to see, and in a group that includes Al Ahly, Palmeiras and Porto, that viewing time might get extended into the knockout round.
Inter Miami's high ranking here has much to do with Messi, but his presence does count for a lot, even at 37 years old.
12. Palmeiras
Winning the 2021 Copa Libertadores, the club's second in the space of two years, earned Palmeiras' passage to the U.S. showpiece.
While they haven't tasted continental glory since, they have gone on to earn two Série A titles, the Recopa Sudamericana and two Campeonato Paulista trophies, furthering Palmeiras' credentials as the finest club side in Brazil.
In the Club World Cup, they'll truly believe they can progress beyond the group stage, with Porto, Inter Miami and Al Ahly set to face them.
Richard Rios and Vitor Roque will be keen to put on a show to earn a big-money move, and Felipe Anderson will want to remind everyone exactly why he's such a wonderful player to watch.
11. Al Hilal
The doomed-from-the-start tenure of Neymar at Al Hilal might be over, but a collection of notable stars still represent the Saudi Arabian side.
Morocco goalkeeper Bono, Kalidou Koulibaly, Rúben Neves, and Aleksandar Mitrović all play for the side that won the Saudi Pro League in 2023-2024 and narrowly missed out on the title in 2024-2025.
Now led by Simone Inzaghi, who has earned nine titles as a manager across stints with Lazio and Internazionale and guided the latter to two Champions League finals, there is plenty for RB Salzburg and Pachuca to be scared of, although Real Madrid should be too much to topple.
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10. Borussia Dortmund
Another team to benefit from the plentiful qualification spots handed out to UEFA is Borussia Dortmund, who have been a shadow of their former selves in recent years.
A surprising run in the 2023-2024 Champions League, which culminated in defeat to Real Madrid in the final, certainly helped that case.
While it didn't count for CWC qualification, their trip to the quarterfinals of this year's Champions League raised some eyebrows, too.
The group draw has certainly been kind to Die Schwarzgelben, who will be confident of qualifying from the top of a group that features Fluminense, Ulsan and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Serhou Guirassy will give those respective defences hives, with the Guinean smashing in 13 goals in the Champions League to finish as the tournament's joint-top scorer alongside Raphinha.
Could Dortmund be dark horses for a deep run? With a forgiving group and uninspiring possible opponents at the round of 16 stage, a trip to the semifinal isn't out of the question.
9. Benfica
Back-to-back Champions League quarterfinal appearances in 2021-22 and 2022-23 helped Benfica to the global showpiece, which will be only mildly comforting after an exhausting campaign that saw them finish second in the Primeira Liga on the final matchday.
The side from the red half of Lisbon couldn't quite topple rivals Sporting CP, but they'll be hopeful of a deep run in the United States with a kind group draw and beatable opponents in the first round of the knockouts.
For the players, it's a last opportunity to put themselves in the shop window for a potentially lucrative move in the summer, so there's plenty to play for.
8. Juventus
After dominating Serie A for almost the entirety of the 2010s, Juventus have shuffled back into the pack.
The Old Lady has not finished higher than third domestically since the 2020-21 season, and it's not progressed further than the Champions League round of 16 in that time, either.
It's clear the side from Turin aren't what they once were, but they should be confident of finishing ahead of Wydad and Al Ain in Group G. Failure to do so will make the inquiry into the club's failings even more intense.
If nothing else, the CWC gives manager Igor Tudor a little extra time to examine his squad and look for areas that could be improved in the summer transfer market, with the Croatian aiming to guide Juve back to prominence next season.
7. Chelsea
Slowly, steadily, Chelsea seem to be getting back to a sense of stability that looked near impossible in what could be described as the club's "banter era" from 2022 onwards.
But before the wheels truly came off, the London side won the Champions League in the 2020-21 campaign, which sealed their spot in the Club World Cup.
A fourth-place Premier League finish in 2024-25 was acceptable in manager Enzo Maresca's first campaign in the dugout, but there'll be no acceptance of regression in the upcoming season. The scrutiny will be strong from a trigger-happy boardroom at the Club World Cup.
Of course, the Blues haven't been afraid to spend money in the last few years, and how they perform in the States will inform how many dollar bills get thrown around. They might not learn too much against Flamengo, LAFC and Espérance, though.
6. Atletico Madrid
Things were looking great for Atletico Madrid for much of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign, but a few bad results dropped them behind league-winners Barcelona and runners-up Real Madrid quickly.
But Atleti are still Atleti: fearless, determined, rugged and cunning. If there's a chance for a battle, Los Rojiblancos will take it, which means Botafogo and Seattle Sounders should worry. PSG might be wise to this, so perhaps they won't risk valuable legs against the Spanish side's scythes.
Some will wonder how they are in the tournament and not Barcelona. But for those with questions, direct them to UEFA's ranking pathway. As it stands, Atleti will be an entertaining team to watch, if not just for the carnage.
5. Internazionale
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Emotions will be fraught among the Inter ranks, having just lost the Champions League final in embarrassing fashion and waved goodbye to manager Simone Inzaghi.
Cristian Chivu is stepping into the fine Italian leather shoes of his predecessor, and that could lead to some uncomfortable first steps.
On paper, Inter shouldn't have too much worry about going up against River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds and Monterrey, but that script has had way too many revisions lately and might look like a jumbled mess.
Inter are fifth in the rankings for now, but they could plummet in a hurry.
4. Bayern Munich
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Harry Kane has the taste for silverware now, and that's truly difficult to satisfy fully.
After winning the first club trophy of his professional career, he'll be keen to add a new shelf to his trophy cabinet. Whether his tired muscles will be put to work in the United States is another matter, though.
For now, until a ball is kicked, Bayern look like the fourth-best team in the competition, and a run to the semis at least looks entirely likely. It just really depends on who suits up and for how long.
Manager Vincent Kompany will undoubtedly be keen to enhance his managerial profile early in his career, and picking up a trophy in a low-intensity competition (with a massive prize fund) is a great way to keep the momentum going.
3. Manchester City
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After going without a major trophy in a season for the first time since 2016-17, Manchester City will want to put things right.
The Club World Cup is a great opportunity to do so, and a bit of extra cash to bolster the squad after a lackluster campaign won't be so bad, either.
New blood is already through the door, though. Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have all joined in June. They'll want to make a case for regular inclusion early, and Pep Guardiola will be raring to impress his footballing philosophy upon them at the earliest opportunity.
While the season just passed has diminished their formidable stature, City will still be one of the favorites to take home the flashy new trophy. If nothing else, the addition of new players will be fascinating to watch.
2. Real Madrid
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It wasn't supposed to go like this in Kylian Mbappé's first season. The Frenchman's slow start was forgivable, but second place in La Liga and a quarterfinal Champions League exit are not. He would have expected more after joining the biggest club on the planet.
Meanwhile, he had to watch as his old side grabbed the title he was never able to deliver.
But big changes are happening at Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti has left, and Xabi Alonso has stepped into the breach. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold will be donning a white shirt rather than a red one for the foreseeable future, and his period of adaptation will be intriguing.
Al Hilal, Pachuca and RB Salzburg should be swatted aside fairly comfortably, but the tactical and positional shifts will be the main area of attention as Real transitions to a new era.
In most competitions, Los Blancos would be considered unquestionable favorites. However, another club has grabbed the footballing world's attention with a frighteningly strong grip.
1. Paris Saint-Germain
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Wow. Did you see that?
Paris Saint-Germain pulled off the most stunning Champions League final victory.
The 5-0 scoreline wasn't flattering. Les Parisiens dominated from the opening whistle to the last, and honestly, they could have scored more.
The age profile of this team makes them a terrifying prospect over the next decade. In the here and now, though, they should be considered favorites to lift the CWC title and teach a few more sides a lesson in attacking verve, central midfield control, and defensive solidity.
The big question is who will play and for how long. After an intense campaign and likely lavish celebrations, the Club World Cup perhaps isn't at the forefront of many players' minds.
But winning is infectious, and there's very little to cure it.
We'll get a better idea of what to expect from PSG in their opening match against Atletico, but for now, they go into the CWC with the label of favorites.
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