The dust has finally settled on the biggest shake-up to club football we’ve seen in decades. Honestly, when FIFA first announced they were ballooning the Club World Cup from a week-long seven-team sprint to a massive 32-team marathon, people were skeptical. I was too. You've probably heard the complaints: "too many games," "player fatigue," or "it's just a money grab." But after watching the fifa club world cup 2025 matches unfold across the United States this past summer, the narrative on the ground felt a lot different than the one on social media.
It was loud. It was chaotic. And yeah, it was actually pretty fun.
From the opening whistle at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14 to the rainy finale in New Jersey, the tournament gave us a weird, beautiful mix of elite European tactics and the pure, unadulterated passion of South American and African fanbases. If you missed the live action, or just want to make sense of how Chelsea ended up lifting the trophy at MetLife Stadium, here is the real story of the matches that defined the summer of 2025.
The Group Stage: Chaos in the Heat
The tournament kicked off with a bit of a stalemate. Most people expected Lionel Messi and Inter Miami to run riot against Al Ahly in the opener. Instead, we got a tactical 0-0 draw in Miami that proved these "smaller" global clubs weren't just there to make up the numbers.
Basically, the first week was a reality check for the giants.
Take Group C, for example. Bayern Munich started like a freight train, absolutely demolishing Auckland City 10-0 in Cincinnati. It was almost uncomfortable to watch. But then, only a few days later, they ran into a Benfica side that looked like they were playing for their lives. Benfica's 1-0 win over the German giants was the first real "shock" of the fifa club world cup 2025 matches, and it threw the group wide open.
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A Few Standout Group Results
- Botafogo 2-1 Seattle Sounders: The atmosphere at Lumen Field was incredible, but the Brazilians showed that extra bit of "Samba" magic late in the game.
- Flamengo 3-1 Chelsea: This was the game that woke everyone up. Chelsea looked sluggish in the Philadelphia heat, and Flamengo’s fans turned the Linc into a mini Maracanã.
- Porto 4-4 Al Ahly: Pure insanity. No defense, just vibes. This was easily the "game of the tournament" for neutral fans who just wanted to see goals.
The group stage lasted until June 26, and by the end of it, we lost some big names. Juventus struggled. Inter Miami squeezed through their group only to run into a buzzsaw later. It was the first time we really saw the 32-team format work—teams couldn't just "show up" and expect to reach the final.
Knockout Drama: Where the Heavyweights Collided
Once we hit the Round of 16 on June 28, the "preseason friendly" feel some critics complained about vanished. These were high-stakes, high-tension fifa club world cup 2025 matches that felt more like the Champions League than anything else.
One of the biggest stories was Manchester City’s exit. After breezing through their group, they met Al-Hilal in the Round of 16. Most fans expected a routine City win. Instead, we got a seven-goal thriller where Al-Hilal's star-studded lineup—proving the Saudi Pro League investment wasn't just for show—knocked out Pep Guardiola's men 4-3. It was the moment the tournament truly "arrived" for the global audience.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were quietly rebuilding their momentum. After that shaky loss to Flamengo in the groups, they took down Benfica 4-1 in the Round of 16 and then scraped past Palmeiras 2-1 in the Quarter-finals. They weren't always the prettiest team on the pitch, but Enzo Maresca (who departed shortly after the tournament) had them drilled for knockout football.
The Road to the Final
The semi-finals were held at MetLife Stadium, giving us a preview of the 2026 World Cup Final venue.
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Paris Saint-Germain, led by a revitalized frontline, put on a masterclass to beat Real Madrid 4-0 in their semi-final. It felt like a changing of the guard, or at least a temporary glitch in Madrid’s DNA. On the other side of the bracket, Chelsea survived a bruising encounter with Fluminense. The Brazilian side had been the darlings of the tournament, playing a "relationist" style of football that confused the European defenders, but Chelsea’s physicality eventually won out in a 2-0 victory.
The Final: A Blue Moon in New Jersey
July 13, 2025. MetLife Stadium. Over 82,000 people.
The final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain was supposed to be a tight affair. It wasn't. Chelsea simply bullied PSG. From the first whistle, the Blues looked like they wanted it more. They were faster to the second balls and more clinical in the box.
The 3-0 scoreline actually felt a bit kind to PSG.
Seeing Chelsea lift that massive new trophy—the one designed by Tiffany & Co.—felt like a statement. They became the first-ever champions of this expanded format. While some people will always prefer the old Intercontinental Cup style, there's no denying that winning seven matches against the best in the world is a different kind of achievement.
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Why the Format Actually Worked (Sorta)
There was a lot of talk about the "two clubs per country" rule. It meant we didn't just see a repeat of the UEFA Champions League. We got to see Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa take on Borussia Dortmund. We saw Ulsan HD from Korea go toe-to-toe with the best of Europe.
Sure, the European teams still dominated the later stages—Chelsea and PSG were the finalists after all—but the middle of the tournament was a fascinating cultural exchange of footballing styles.
The attendance numbers were actually decent too. FIFA reported an average of nearly 40,000 fans per match. In cities like Seattle and Atlanta, the stadiums were rocking. In some of the smaller venues like TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, the intimacy made for some great TV.
The Logistics Nightmare
It wasn't all perfect. The travel was brutal. Asking teams to play in the humidity of Miami one day and then fly to Seattle for the next was a lot. You could see the fatigue in the players' legs by the time the semi-finals rolled around. If FIFA wants this to be a permanent fixture every four years, they’re going to have to look at the scheduling. Kinda feels like the players are being squeezed for every drop of energy they have.
How to Prepare for the 2029 Edition
If you’re a fan of a club that didn't make it this time, the race for 2029 has already started. The qualification is based on a four-year ranking cycle and winning continental titles.
What you should do next:
- Track the Rankings: Keep an eye on the FIFA 4-year club rankings for your confederation. A good run in the Champions League or Copa Libertadores now is what gets you a ticket to the next one.
- Watch the Highlights: If you missed the chaos, FIFA+ and DAZN have the full archives. Watching the Porto vs. Al Ahly 4-4 draw is a great way to spend an afternoon.
- Check the 2026 Venues: Many of the stadiums used for these fifa club world cup 2025 matches will host the World Cup next year. If you're planning to travel in 2026, look at the fan feedback from these cities to see which ones have the best transport and stadium vibes.
The inaugural 32-team Club World Cup wasn't the disaster people predicted. It was long, it was hot, and it was occasionally lopsided, but it gave us a glimpse of what global club football looks like when the doors are finally thrown wide open. Chelsea are the kings of the world for now, but with the way the rest of the world played, they might not hold that crown for long.