The 2025 Club World Cup draw, held on Thursday in Miami, Florida, has set the stage for thrilling encounters involving African clubs, with teams from across the continent facing some tough challenges in the competition’s opening round.
The tournament’s structure mirrors that of the FIFA World Cup, with teams divided into groups.
The top two sides from each group will advance to the knockout stages, culminating in the final.
The #FIFACWC group stage draw. ✔️#TakeItToTheWorld pic.twitter.com/4GOctX7MgI
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 5, 2024
For African clubs, the draw has brought a mix of excitement and anticipation as they prepare to face some of the biggest names in world football.
In Group A, Egypt’s Al Ahly will meet Inter Miami, a team led by Argentine icon Lionel Messi, in their opening match.
The group also features Brazil’s Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto, making it a highly competitive pool for the African giants.
Group D sees Tunisian side Espérance de Tunis drawn against Flamengo, one of Brazil’s most successful clubs, in what promises to be a captivating opener.
The group also includes Chelsea, the English Premier League giants, and León, a strong team from Mexico, adding to the complexity of the group stage for Espérance.
Group G will see Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca face reigning champions Manchester City in their first match, an incredibly tough task for the Moroccan side.
This group also includes Al Ain from the UAE and Juventus, two other powerhouses that will challenge Wydad’s chances of progression.
Finally, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns have been placed in Group F, alongside South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, Borussia Dortmund from Germany, and Brazil’s Fluminense.
Sundowns will face Ulsan Hyundai in their opening match, with both sides seeking to start strong in what looks to be a competitive group.
The 2025 edition of the Club World Cup will feature top-tier clubs from across the globe, with the African representatives facing tough battles in their respective groups.
As the tournament approaches, excitement continues to build around how the continent’s clubs will fare against some of the best teams in world football.
