David GOMBE
Ivory Coast and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has given his backing to the new format of the Club World Cup, as he believes that the inclusion of 32 teams from around the world provides greater opportunities for global glory to a wider spectrum of players.
The revamped Club World Cup will take place between 15th June to 13th July 2025 in the United States of America.
“It is a great opportunity for players coming from a continent like Africa for example, where you don’t really see those teams on the biggest stage. It gives more chances to players who cannot perform in and win the World Cup with their national team to be able to become world champions with their clubs.”
The former Chelsea striker was a pivotal part of the English Premier League club’s success across his two stays at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2012, before returning for the 2014/15 campaign – helping the Blues to lift the UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and three League Cups.
Overall, Drogba scored 164 goals in 381 appearances for the London side, including an astonishing record of nine in nine final outings, the most memorable of which came in the 88th minute of the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich. That thumping header levelled the score at 1-1, before the Côte d’Ivoire great converted the final penalty in a dramatic 4-3 shootout success to secure his club’s first European crown.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will bring together 32 elite teams from all six confederations, with the action set to kick off at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, 14 June.
Manchester City are the reigning FIFA Club World Cup champions.
A total of 63 matches will take place across 11 cities Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C culminating in what promises to be a spectacular final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, 13 July, when the FIFA club world champions will be crowned.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup Groups
Group A
SE Palmeiras (BRA)
FC Porto (POR)
Al Ahly FC (EGY)
Inter Miami CF (USA)
Group B
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Botafogo (BRA)
Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
Group C
FC Bayern München (GER)
Auckland City FC (NZL)
CA Boca Juniors (ARG)
SL Benfica (POR)
Group D
CR Flamengo (BRA)
Espérance Sportive de Tunis (TUN)
Chelsea FC (ENG)
Club León (MEX)
Group E
CA River Plate (ARG)
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
CF Monterrey (MEX)
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)
Group F
Fluminense FC (BRA)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Ulsan HD (KOR)
Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA)
Group G
Manchester City (ENG)
Wydad AC (MAR)
Al Ain FC (UAE)
Juventus FC (ITA)
Group H
Real Madrid C. F. (ESP)
Al Hilal (KSA)
CF Pachuca (MEX)
FC Salzburg (AUT)
