FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group Stage :Drama, Upsets, and Knockout Qualifiers

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group stage is in the books, and what a ride it was! From June 14 to June 26, 32 of the world’s best clubs battled across 12 U.S. stadiums, delivering goals, shocks, and pure football chaos.

This wasn’t the old seven-team tournament—it was a full-on, World Cup-style showdown with eight groups of four, and only the top two from each punching through to the Round of 16. With $1 billion in prize money and global bragging rights on the line, the group stage gave us everything from Messi magic to underdog heroics. Here’s how it all went down, who’s moving on, and the moments that had fans losing their minds.

How the Group Stage Worked

The 32 teams, representing UEFA (Europe), CONMEBOL (South America), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), CONCACAF (North America), OFC (Oceania), and the host nation’s Inter Miami, were split into eight groups (A to H). Each team played three matches in a round-robin format, with three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss.

The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage, starting June 28. Ties were broken by head-to-head results, goal difference, and goals scored, in that order. The group stage, held in cities like Miami, Seattle, and Philadelphia, set the stage for the knockouts with 48 matches of pure intensity.

The Groups: Final Standings and Key Moments

The draw on December 5, 2024, in Miami gave us some spicy groups, and the results didn’t disappoint. Here’s the rundown on each group, based on final standings and key matches, with some jaw-dropping moments:

• Group A: Palmeiras, Inter Miami, Al Ahly, FC Porto
  Final Standings: Palmeiras (7 points, topped on goal difference), Inter Miami (7 points), Al Ahly (2 points), FC Porto (2 points).

  Palmeiras and Inter Miami snuck through after a thrilling 2-2 draw in their final match, with Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez scoring for Miami, and Paulinho and Mauricio replying for Palmeiras.

  Al Ahly and Porto bowed out after a wild 4-4 thriller, with Wessam Abou Ali’s hat-trick for Al Ahly stealing the show but not enough to advance. Messi’s homecoming at Hard Rock Stadium, starting with a 0-0 draw against Al Ahly, kept fans buzzing.

• Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Botafogo, Atlético Madrid, Seattle Sounders
  Final Standings: PSG (9 points), Botafogo (6 points), Atlético Madrid (6 points, eliminated on goal difference), Seattle Sounders (0 points).
  PSG ran the table, topping Group B with a 4-0 rout of Atlético Madrid and a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders, thanks to goals from Khvicha Kvartatskhelia and Achraf Hakimi. Botafogo nabbed second despite a 1-0 loss to Atlético, with Antoine Griezmann’s strike not enough to overcome their -3 goal difference. Seattle Sounders struggled, but the U.S. crowd gave them love. This group was a brutal fight—PSG vs. Atlético was a tactical chess match turned blowout.

• Group C: Benfica, Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors, Auckland City
  Final Standings: Benfica (7 points), Bayern Munich (6 points), Boca Juniors (4 points), Auckland City (0 points).
  Benfica clinched the group with a 1-0 upset over Bayern Munich on June 24, while Bayern’s 10-0 demolition of Auckland City (Harry Kane on fire) secured their spot. Boca Juniors pushed hard, drawing 2-2 with Benfica and nearly stealing a win against Bayern (Miguel Merentiel’s goal had fans dreaming), but fell short. Auckland City, Oceania’s pride, couldn’t keep up but won hearts for their effort.

• Group D: Flamengo, Chelsea, Espérance de Tunis, LAFC
  Final Standings: Flamengo (7 points), Chelsea (6 points), Espérance de Tunis (4 points), LAFC (0 points).
  Flamengo pulled off a stunning 2棍3-1 comeback win over Chelsea, with goals in the second half, to top the group. Chelsea advanced despite the loss, thanks to a 2-0 win over LAFC. Espérance de Tunis shocked LAFC 1-0, with Youcef Belaïli’s 70th-minute goal and a stoppage-time penalty save by Bechir Ben Said, but it wasn’t enough to advance. LAFC’s elimination stung MLS fans.

• Group E: River Plate, Inter Milan, Monterrey, Urawa Red Diamonds
  Final Standings: River Plate (7 points), Inter Milan (7 points), Monterrey (3 points), Urawa Red Diamonds (0 points).
  River Plate and Inter Milan dominated, with River’s attacking flair and Inter’s tactical nous shining. A 2-0 win by River over Urawa Red Diamonds on June 17 in Seattle set the tone, while Inter Milan’s 3-1 victory over Monterrey sealed their spot. Urawa and Monterrey couldn’t keep pace, despite Monterrey’s CONCACAF pedigree.

• Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Mamelodi Sundowns, Ulsan HD
  Final Standings: Fluminense (7 points), Borussia Dortmund (6 points), Mamelodi Sundowns (3 points), Ulsan HD (1 point).
  Fluminense edged Dortmund in a 2-1 thriller on June 17 in East Rutherford, securing the group lead. Dortmund advanced with a 3-0 win over Ulsan HD, while Mamelodi Sundowns grabbed a 1-0 win over Ulsan but fell short on points. Ulsan’s lone point came from a draw, but they couldn’t break through.

• Group G: Manchester City, Juventus, Al Ain, Wydad AC
  Final Standings: Manchester City (9 points), Juventus (6 points), Al Ain (3 points), Wydad AC (0 points).
  Manchester City steamrolled Group G, capping it with a 5-2 thrashing of Juventus on June 26 in Orlando, with Phil Foden and Julián Álvarez running riot. Juventus hung on for second, while Al Ain’s 2-1 win over Wydad AC on June 26 was a consolation prize. Wydad’s early exit was a shock for African fans.

• Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Red Bull Salzburg, Pachuca
  Final Standings: Real Madrid (7 points), Al Hilal (6 points), Red Bull Salzburg (4 points), Pachuca (0 points).
  Real Madrid topped the group with a 3-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg on June 26 in Philadelphia, looking sharp under Xabi Alonso. Al Hilal secured second with a 2-0 victory over Pachuca, their first win under Simone Inzaghi. A 1-1 draw between Real and Al Hilal earlier kept things tight, but Salzburg’s draw-heavy campaign wasn’t enough.

Knockout Round Qualifiers

The top two teams from each group advanced to the Round of 16, starting June 28. Here’s who made it:

• Group A: Palmeiras, Inter Miami
• Group B: PSG, Botafogo
• Group C: Benfica, Bayern Munich
• Group D: Flamengo, Chelsea
• Group E: River Plate, Inter Milan
• Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund
• Group G: Manchester City, Juventus
• Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal

The Round of 16 matchups include blockbusters like Palmeiras vs. Botafogo, PSG vs. Inter Miami, and Real Madrid vs. Juventus. Check FIFA.com for the full schedule.

Standout Moments and Surprises

The group stage was a rollercoaster. Bayern Munich’s 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City was a statement, but Benfica stealing Group C with a 1-0 win over Bayern was a shocker. Flamengo’s 3-1 comeback against Chelsea showed South America’s fire, while Espérance de Tunis’ 1-0 upset over LAFC had MLS fans stunned. Al Ahly’s 4-4 draw with Porto, powered by Wessam Abou Ali’s hat-trick, was the game of the stage, even if both teams went home. Inter Miami’s survival, thanks to Messi and Suárez, kept the U.S. crowd buzzing.

What’s Next?

The knockout stage kicks off on June 28, with matches like Palmeiras vs. Botafogo (12:00 PM ET, Philadelphia) and PSG vs. Inter Miami (12:00 PM ET, Atlanta). The action builds to the quarterfinals (July 4–5), semifinals (July 8–9), and the final on July 13 at MetLife Stadium. With no third-place playoff, it’s all about the trophy—and that $125 million prize.

How to Follow the Action

Every match streams free on DAZN globally, with TNT, Univision, TUDN, and ViX covering select games in the U.S. Check FIFA.com for results and highlights, and join the fan frenzy on X with #FIFACWC. Tickets for knockout matches are still available, starting at $40.

Wrap-Up

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group stage delivered it all—blowouts, upsets, and nail-biters. From Manchester City’s dominance to Flamengo’s heroics, the stage is set for a wild knockout phase. With 16 teams left, including heavyweights like Real Madrid and PSG, and dark horses like Al Hilal, the race for the crown is wide open. Get ready for more drama—football’s global party is just getting started.