Football clubs around the world can now  confirm their group stage opponents after football governing body FIFA conducted the draw for the inaugural edition of the FIFA Club World Cup scheduled to take place in the United States next year. 

The draw for the revamped tournament modelled after the Men’s and Women’s FIFA World Cup was conducted on Thursday, resulting in some interesting matchups between giants and underdogs that would certainly debut on fans’ screen in the middle of 2025.

Thirty two teams, which are the best of the best produced by each world’s continent, will compete for the grand prize and they have been grouped into eight groups consisting of four teams each. 

In Group A, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami are up against Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Portuguese side FC Porto and Brazil’s Palmeiras. 

Group B will see PSG and Atletico Madrid clash in the group stage. They are joined in the group by reigning South American champions Botafago and Seattle Sounders F.C.

Chelsea lock horns with Brazil’s Flamengo, Esperance of Tunisia and Club Leon in Group D. 

Meanwhile, Group G contains Manchester City, Juventus, Wydad Casablanca and Al Ain F.C while reigning European champions Real Madrid, in Group H, will face Neymar’s Al Hilal, RB Salzburg and Club Pachuca.

Inter Miami will kick off the tournament against Al Ahly at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 15 while the final match will be played on July 13. Unlike the normal World Cup tournament, there won’t be any third-place playoff in the Club World Cup.

Full group stage draw:

Group A

Palmeiras

Porto 

Al Ahly 

Inter Miami 

Group B

PSG

Atletico Madrid

Botafogo

Seattle Sounders

Group C

Bayern Munich 

Auckland City

Boca Juniors

Benfica

Group D

Chelsea

Flamengo

Club Leon

Esperance de Tunis

Group E

River Plate

Urawa Red Diamonds

Monterrey

Inter Milan

Group F

Fluminense

Borussia Dortmund 

Ulsan HD

Mamelodi Sundowns

Group G

Manchester City 

Juventus

Wydad Casablanca 

AI Ain

Group H

Real Madrid 

RB Salzburg

Al Hilal

Pachuca