The new-look FIFA Club World Cup begins this week, with a stacked field of teams from across the globe ready to compete for a trophy FIFA hopes will be highly coveted by those participating.
Also notable is the enormous prize pot of potential money to be earned, which FIFA has touted in the hope that clubs will take the competition seriously, despite the fact it presents a massive additional strain on the football calendar.
Giants from Europe as well as the biggest clubs from South Africa, South America, Asia, Oceania, and North America all convene to do battle in the United States, with one year to go until the FIFA World Cup is played across many of these same American venues.
The Sporting News looks at who are the favorites, who has the best chance to prevail, and who might disappoint as the first-ever 32-team Club World Cup takes flight.
MORE: A full look at the 2025 Club World Cup match schedule, draw, and potential matchups
Who will win Club World Cup 2025? Betting odds, favorites
Despite their exit in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League this past European season, Real Madrid are considered favorites to win the 2025 Club World Cup. Los Blancos are under new management as Xabi Alonso takes over for the Carlo Ancelotti, who left for the Brazil job last month, but they still have a number of deficiencies to work out.
Paris Saint-Germain, on the heels of their resounding Champions League title, are second-favorites, while fellow European giants Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Champions League finalists Inter Milan are close behind.
The first non-European side to appear on the odds are Brazilian clubs Palmeiras and Flamengo, with the latter leading the Brazilian Serie A standings 11 matches into the season. Al Hilal are the first Asian club to appear, while Lionel Messi’s club Inter Miami are the North American team given the best chance to triumph.
| Club | Country | Confederation | Odds (USA: DraftKings) |
| Real Madrid | Spain | UEFA | +400 |
| PSG | France | UEFA | +500 |
| Man City | England | UEFA | +500 |
| Bayern Munich | Germany | UEFA | +700 |
| Chelsea | England | UEFA | +1000 |
| Inter Milan | Italy | UEFA | +1400 |
| Atletico Madrid | Spain | UEFA | +1400 |
| Juventus | Italy | UEFA | +2500 |
| Borussia Dortmund | Germany | UEFA | +2500 |
| Porto | Portugal | UEFA | +3500 |
| Palmeiras | Brazil | CONMEBOL | +3500 |
| Flamengo | Brazil | CONMEBOL | +3500 |
| Benfica | Portugal | UEFA | +3500 |
| Botafogo | Brazil | CONMEBOL | +4000 |
| River Plate | Argentina | CONMEBOL | +5000 |
| Fluminense | Brazil | CONMEBOL | +5000 |
| Boca Juniors | Argentina | CONMEBOL | +5000 |
| Al Hilal | Saudi Arabia | AFC | +5000 |
| Inter Miami | USA | CONCACAF | +6500 |
2025 Club World Cup prediction
On the whole, Barcelona are the best team in the world at the moment, but they are not at the Club World Cup.
Thus, European champions PSG are the second-best team in the world, and surely the best in the Club World Cup field by a decent margin.
After clobbering Inter Milan in the Champions League final, it’s hard to imagine them being upended by anyone else in the Club World Cup, including now-flawed recent European champions Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Madrid will be working out the kinks under a new manager, and while they should improve under his leadership, it will take time for his philosophies to show truly tangible results. Additionally, he cannot paper over a number of squad deficiencies that still need addressing in the transfer window.
Man City, meanwhile, evidently realize how many holes they have to fill in the team given all the business they are doing, but not all of those players will not be signed in time to take part, leaving them with a possible lack of options in midfield, full-back, and winger areas.
Bayern Munich are probably the second-best team in the field as it stands and are likely to be PSG’s biggest test. They will end up on opposite sides of the bracket if each win their group, so that could be your potential final.
Prediction: PSG to win the 2025 Club World Cup (+500 on DraftKings)
Predicted group winners, knockout results at 2025 Club World Cup
Group stage
Group A winner: Porto
Group A runner-up: Palmeiras
Eliminated from Group A: Al Ahly, Inter Miami
Group B winner: PSG
Group B runner-up: Botafogo
Eliminated from Group B: Atletico Madrid, Seattle Sounders
Group C winner: Bayern Munich
Group C runner-up: Benfica
Eliminated from Group C: Boca Juniors, Auckland City
Group D winner: Flamengo
Group D runner-up: Chelsea
Eliminated from Group D: LAFC, Esperance de Tunis
Group E winner: River Plate
Group E runner-up: Inter Milan
Eliminated from Group E: Monterrey, Urawa Red Diamonds
Group F winner: Fluminense
Group F runner-up: Borussia Dortmund
Eliminated from Group F: Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns
Group G winner: Man City
Group G runner-up: Juventus
Eliminated from Group G: Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain
Group H winner: Real Madrid
Group H runner-up: Al Hilal
Eliminated from Group H: Pachuca, Red Bull Salzburg
Knockout stage
Round of 16 results
Porto (A1) def. Botafogo (B2)
Bayern Munich (C1) def. Chelsea (D2)
River Plate (E1) def. Borussia Dortmund (F2)
Man City (G1) def. Al Hilal (H2)
PSG (B1) def. Palmeiras (A2)
Flamengo (D1) def. Benfica (C2)
Inter Milan (F1) def. Fluminense (E2)
Real Madrid (H1) def. Juventus (G2)
Quarterfinal results
Bayern Munich def. Porto
Man City def. River Plate
PSG def. Flamengo
Real Madrid def. Inter Milan
Semifinal results
Bayern Munich def. Man City
PSG def. Real Madrid
Final results
PSG def. Bayern Munich
