Soccer Club World Cup 2025: Odds and Best Betting Picks

When all the major soccer action from around Europe concludes this season, there will be limited time for teams to settle, as the new-look FIFA Club World Cup will be staged across the United States. While the tournament is not a new concept, it will be the first time being expanded in a 32-team format. 

The winners of each of the last four continental championships will be involved, with Manchester City aiming to successfully defend their honor after claiming success in the final FIFA Club World Cup in its former format in 2023. 

But, what should fans be aware of ahead of the 2025 edition of the tournament, and who are among the likely leading contenders for the summer-long event?

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FIFA Club World Cup History

The FIFA Club World Cup returned following a hiatus in 2005, with the tournament pitting together the winners of the Champions League, Copa Libertadores, and the major continental competitions in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. 

Despite being reborn in 2005, the first official club World Cup tournament was held in 1867, when FA Cup winners Aston Villa defeated Scottish Cup champions Hibernian. Plans for a global club competition accelerated in the 1900s, with original plans seeing a tournament staged in 1909; 21 years before the first-ever FIFA World Cup. 

European teams have dominated the competition throughout recent history, with Real Madrid winning five titles between 2014 and 2022. Other European teams to have won the honor this millennium include Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona. You can find the current favorites for this competition here: youbet.com/soccer/odds/ 

How Does The Competition Work?

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will have a fresh format for teams to contend with. It will follow the same format as the World Cup tournaments between 1998 and 2022, with the main exception being the omission of the third-place playoff. 

The 32 teams have been drawn into eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each progressing through to the knockout stage. From here, each tie will consist of a single one-off match, with the winners progressing through to the next round until the winners are determined following the final. 

Bear in mind that FIFA recently announced Club Leon from Mexico was disqualified from this competition due to multi-club ownership.

Where and When Is The FIFA Club World Cup Taking Place?

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will take place between June 14 and July 13, with matches being staged across eleven host cities in the United States. Five of the venues that will be used during next year’s FIFA World Cup will host matches this summer. 

Like the final of the global tournament next summer, the final of the Club World Cup will also be staged at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The semi-finals will also be staged at the same stadium. Other notable stadiums that will host matches this summer include the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, and Geodis Park. 

Who Are The Leading Contenders?

Real Madrid

Spanish giants Real Madrid have been listed as the early favorites to win the Club World Cup this summer. Los Blancos are the most successful team in the history of the tournament with five previous wins in the original format. 

Real Madrid could also come into the tournament this year after winning a treble in 2024-25. Carlo Ancelotti’s side should have few issues in ensuring their progression through to the next round after being drawn alongside RB Salzburg, Pachuca, and Al Hilal. 

However, winning Group H could set up a blockbuster showdown with either Manchester City or Juventus in the round of 16. 

Manchester City

It has been a largely forgettable campaign for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, and they could yet end the 2024-25 season without a single piece of silverware. 

The reigning Premier League champions suffered an early elimination in the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid, and they are in a race to secure a top-four finish. However, on their day, City are able to compete against the very best in the world, and they come into this summer’s tournament as the reigning Club World Cup champions. 

They will need to overcome Al Ain, Wydad AC and Juventus in Group G. Winning the group could ensure a straightforward run to the quarterfinals. 

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich are one of a number of teams that also boast previous winning experience in the Club World Cup. The German giants landed success for the second time in the tournament in 2020, and they appear on course to at least win the Bundesliga title in 2024-25. 

The Bavarians are also still in the mix for Champions League success. Bayern Munich should face few issues in getting out of the group after being drawn alongside Auckland City, Benfica, and Boca Juniors. 

Who Will Win The Club World Cup?

Based on the odds, and previous editions of the tournament, it is likely that the winner of the Club World Cup will come from Europe. A potential sleeper pick at this stage could be PSG, who have already shown their class in the Champions League this season. 

The French giants have Atletico Madrid, Seattle Sounders, and Botafogo in Group B, but winning that group could set up a tie with potentially Inter Miami in the round of 16, and then Chelsea in the last eight. 

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