David GOMBE
The Group stage draw for the new look FIFA Club World Cup has been conducted on Thursday, 5th December in Miami.
The draw for next year’s tournament was conducted by Juventus and Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero.
The Club World Cup will take place in the summer of 2025 from June 15, with the final slated for July 13.
Former Uganda Cranes captain Denis Onyango’s Mamelodi Sundowns are in group F alongside Brazil’s Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Ulsan HD (Korea).
African club football giants Al Ahly (Egypt) are in group A with Palmeiras (Brz), Porto (Por) and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami (USA).
European giants Real Madrid (Esp) are in group H along with FC Salzburg (Austria), Al Hilal (Rsa), CF Pachuca (Mexico)
Chelsea will come up against Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis in Group D in addition to Rio-based Flamengo and will open their Club World Cup campaign against Mexican side Club Leon.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have been grouped with Juventus, Morocco’s Wydad AC (Mor) and Al Ain (UAE).
Meanwhile, the innovative new FIFA Club World Cup Trophy, designed by FIFA was unveiled for the first time by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and former Brazil striker Ronaldo ahead of the draw.
The 2025 Club World Cup will be played in the United States across 12 stadiums which are Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta),Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte), TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), GEODIS Park (Nashville), Camping World Stadium (Orlando), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando),Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Lumen Field (Seattle) and Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
FIFA Club World Cup draw in full;
Group A: Palmeiras (Brz), Porto (Por), Al Ahly (Egy), Inter Miami (USA)
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain (Fra), Atletico Madrid (Esp), Botafogo (Brz), Seattle Sounders (USA)
Group C: Bayern Munich (Ger), Benfica (Por), Boca Juniors (Arg), Auckland City (Nzl)
Group D: Flamengo (Brz), Chelsea (Eng), Club Leon (Mex), Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tun)
Group E: River Plate (Arg), Inter Milan (Ita), CF Monterrey (Mex), Urawa Red Diamonds (Jpn)
Group F: Fluminense (Brz), Borussia Dortmund (Ger), Ulsan HD (Kor), Mamelodi Sundowns (Rsa)
Group G: Man City (Eng), Juventus (Ita), Wydad AC (Mor), Al Ain (UAE)
Group H: Real Madrid (Esp), FC Salzburg (Aut), Al Hilal (Rsa), CF Pachuca (Mex)
