On Saturday night, Al Ain will attempt to land a second Asian Champions League crown.
The 2003 champions, the only UAE side to lift the continent’s premier club trophy, must overturn the 2-1 first-leg deficit against Yokohama F Marinos at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
However, victory carries with it another reward: whoever prevails in the Garden City will seal a spot at next year's inaugural 32-team Fifa Club World Cup – and thus compete against some of the game’s most prominent clubs.
Here’s the lowdown on the expanded tournament, set for summer 2025.
What is it?
For the first time, Fifa’s Club World Cup will comprise 32 teams – the past 17 editions dating back to 2007, five of which have taken place in the UAE, have featured only seven.
Designed to bring together the world’s leading teams, it aims to pit against one another the most successful clubs from each of the six international confederations: Uefa, South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Confederation of African Football (CAF), Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
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Phil Foden of Manchester City is challenged by John Kennedy of Fluminense during the FIFA Club World Cup final. Getty Images -
Manchester City's Kyle Walker on the ball. PA -
Manchester City's Rodri during the FIFA Club World Cup 2023 final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah. PA -
US singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha and French DJ David Guetta perform during the closing ceremony. AFP -
Fluminense's players pose for a picture ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup final. AFP -
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva has his chance saved by Fluminense's Fabio. Reuters -
Manchester City players celebrate their second goal. PA -
David Guetta performs on the pitch before the Club World Cup final. AP -
Manchester City's Spanish head coach Pep Guardiola reacts during the Club World Cup 2023 final. AFP -
Fluminense's Marcelo reacts. Reuters -
Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates with teammates after Fluminense's Nino scores an own goal. Reuters -
Manchester City's English midfielder Phil Foden splashes water on his face. AFP -
Manchester City's Kyle Walker scuffles with Fluminense's Felipe Melo. EPA -
Fluminense players look dejected after the match. Reuters
The places are distributed as follows:
Africa: 4 CAF teams (three via CAF Champions League champions pathway and one via ranking pathway)
Asia: 4 AFC teams (three via AFC Champions League champions pathway and one via ranking pathway)
Europe: 12 Uefa teams (four via Uefa Champions League champions pathway and eight via ranking pathway)
North and Central America, Caribbean: 4 Concacaf teams (all via Concacaf Champions Cup champions pathway)
Oceania: 1 OFC team (via ranking pathway)
South America: 6 Conmebol teams (four via Conmebol Libertadores champions pathway and two via ranking pathway
Host country: One team
Where is it?
The 2025 Fifa Club World Cup will be staged in the United States.
When is it?
The tournament takes place from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
Who has qualified?
As of Saturday, 27 of the 32 teams have been confirmed.
Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21 and 2022/23 CAF Champions League winners
Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League winners
ES Tunis (TUN) – CAF ranking pathway
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) - CAF ranking pathway
Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 Asian Champions League winners
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 Asian Champions League winners
Ulsan HD FC (KOR) – AFC ranking pathway
Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 Uefa Champions League winners
Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 Uefa Champions League winners
Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 Uefa Champions League winners
Bayern Munich (GER) – Uefa ranking pathway
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – Uefa ranking pathway
Inter Milan (ITA) – Uefa ranking pathway
Porto (POR) - Uefa ranking pathway
Benfica (POR) – Uefa ranking pathway
Borussia Dortmund (GER) - Uefa ranking pathway
Juventus (ITA) - Uefa ranking pathway
Atletico Madrid (ESP) - Uefa ranking pathway
FC Salzburg (AUT) - Uefa ranking pathway
Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup winners
Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup winners
Club Leon (MEX) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup winners
Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway
Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 Conmebol Libertadores winners
Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 Conmebol Libertadores winners
Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 Conmebol Libertadores winners
River Plate (ARG) – Conmebol ranking pathway
Who is still to book their spot?
The five places still open at the tournament will be filled as follows:
1. 2023/24 Asian Champions League winners
2. 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup winners
3. 2024 Conmebol Libertadores winners
4. Conmebol ranking pathway (one team)
5. One team from host country
How will the 2025 Club World Cup format look?
Group stage: eight groups of four teams per group playing in a single-game, round-robin format.
Top two teams per group progress to the round of 16.
A direct single-match knockout stage from last 16 to final.
No third-place play-off.
What they said
Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain) to Inside FIFA: “Only one step separates us from the [Champions League] title, and indeed it's a great incentive. Winning the title would allow us to participate in many tournaments next year, the most important being the Club World Cup. Every team would like to experience this adventure. We hope, God willing, that we'll be fortunate enough to win the title and participate in that tournament.”
