Messi & Mbappe headline star-studded FIFA Club World Cup: Group stage draw

The draw for the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup was held Thursday, pitting global football giants against each other.

The highly controversial tournament will kick off in the United States next summer.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kick off the showpiece against Egyptian powerhouse Al-Ahly. Elsewhere , Real Madrid will face Al-Hilal.

Premier League champions Manchester City and Chelsea will also be in action, taking on Juventus and Flamengo respectively.

The Blues hope to atone for the 2012 loss against Corinthians when they lock horns with Flamengo, led by their former left-back Filipe Luis. Chelsea’s group also features Club Leon and Esperance Tunis.

City’s group includes Moroccan side Wydad AC and last season’s AFC Champions League winners Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates.

The tournament has been championed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. His plans raised concerns from all corners.

He also faced legal challenges from the players’ union, FIFPRO. They are worried about the toll of the fixtures on the players.

The tournament will be held across 12 stadiums in 11 different cities, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

While the competition promises to be a spectacle, critics have questioned the inclusion of Miami, who were knocked out in the opening round of the Major League play-offs.

Club World Cup 2025 group stage draw

• Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
• Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
• Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
• Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
• Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
• Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
• Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al-Ain, Juventus.
• Group H: Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca, Red Bull Salzburg.