The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was the first to feature how many teams in its expanded format?

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marked a significant evolution for international club football, as it was the first edition of the tournament to feature an expanded lineup of 32 teams. This marked a substantial departure from the competition's previous format, which typically involved only seven clubs competing annually.

Held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025, the revamped tournament adopted a structure more akin to the FIFA World Cup for national teams. Clubs qualified for this prestigious event by winning their continental championships over the preceding four years, with additional spots allocated based on club rankings within their respective confederations. This new quadrennial cycle aims to elevate the competition's prestige and provide a grander stage for top clubs from around the globe.

The expansion to 32 teams allowed for greater representation from all six FIFA confederations, creating a truly global spectacle. Teams were divided into eight groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to a knockout stage, culminating in a final where Chelsea emerged as the inaugural champions of this expanded format. This shift from a smaller, annual event to a larger, less frequent tournament underscores FIFA's ambition to create a marquee club competition that captures global interest on a scale similar to its national team counterpart.