All Star Eleven and Harlem Globetrotters to be late additions to FIFA Club World Cup? | OneFootball

Don’t go to bed, set your alarm clocks, no matter what you do, just don’t miss the kick-off of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup!

Yes, it’s the big one, Sunday morning 1am (UK time), it is Al Ahly v Inter Miami.

I can hardly wait…

I still can’t believe this total farce is going ahead. As in, the whole 32 team 2025 FIFA Club World Cup tournament, not just Al Ahly v Inter Miami.

As per the official FIFA site, this is how the 32 teams ‘qualified’ for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup….

Al Ahly FC (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League Wydad AC (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League Espérance (TUN) – CAF ranking pathway Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA) – CAF ranking pathway Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League Al Ain FC (UAE) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League Ulsan HD (KOR) – AFC ranking pathway Chelsea FC (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League Real Madrid C. F. (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League FC Bayern München (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway FC Porto (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway SL Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway Borussia Dortmund (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway Juventus FC (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway Atlético de Madrid (ESP) – UEFA ranking pathway FC Salzburg (AUT) – UEFA ranking pathway CF Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup Seattle Sounders FC (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup CF Pachuca (MEX) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Auckland City FC (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway SE Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores CR Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores Fluminense FC (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores Botafogo (BRA) – 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores CA River Plate (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway CA Boca Juniors (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway Inter Miami CF (USA) – Host nation slot LAFC (USA) – FIFA Club World Cup Play-In

The whole 2025 FIFA Club World Cup thing has been a make it up as they go along thing.

Summed up perfectly by simply choosing Inter Miami to take part, purely because they were desperate for Lionel Messi to be involved.

There was even talk of getting Ronaldo moved to another club, temporarily or permanently, just so he could take part too.

You honestly wouldn’t have been surprised if at the last minute FIFA decided to add the Harlem Globetrotters, or invite a team of all-stars handpicked from all the other clubs not already invited.

Sunday June 15

Group C: Bayern Munich vs Auckland City – TQL Stadium, Cincinnati; kick off 5pm

Group B: PSG vs Atletico Madrid – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; kick off 8pm

Group A: Palmeiras vs Porto – MetLife Stadium, New York New Jersey; kick off 11pm

2025 FIFA Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami

Group B: Paris St-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica

Group D: Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunisie, Chelsea, Los Angeles FC

Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg

BBC Sport report:

Club World Cup prize money

A £775m prize pot will be split between the 32 teams, with the tournament winners earning up to £97m.

Clubs will take home a set figure for each round:

Group Stages: £1.5m for a win and £800,000 for a draw

Round of 16: £5.8m

Quarter-Final: £10.1m

Semi-Final: £16.2m

Finalist: £23.2m

Winner: £30.0m

Clubs will also receive an award for participation – the fee depending on different sporting and commercial criteria.

European clubs will earn more for taking part than clubs from other continents. The highest ranked European clubs will receive £29.6m, and the lowest £9.9m.’

Where can I watch the Club World Cup?

‘Streaming platform Dazn has paid $1bn (£787m) to secure exclusive global rights to the tournament and will show all 63 matches free to view on its platforms.

The deal has created controversy because in the same month it was agreed, Dazn sold a stake in its business to Saudi Arabian firm Surj Sports in an agreement also worth $1bn.

Subsequently, Saudi Arabian state oil company Aramco and state investment firm PIF have been announced as sponsors of the tournament.