Who are the favourites to win the Club World Cup?
The new and improved FIFA Club World Cup is here and for the first time, 32 teams from every corner of the world will battle it out in a month-long competition that mirrors the format of the traditional FIFA World Cup.
Hosted across 12 major cities in the United States, including footballing hotspots like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Seattle, the tournament kicks off on June 14 and runs through to the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.
Manchester City return as reigning champions, having brushed aside Fluminense 4-0 in the 2023 final. But the challenge is stiffer this time. European powerhouses Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea are all in the mix, alongside South American giants like Flamengo, River Plate, and Palmeiras. Add in Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, and African and Asian champions like Al Ahly and Urawa Red Diamonds, and you've got a tournament featuring the best from across the globe.
There’s plenty on the line too, with a record-breaking £775 million in prize money, including £97 million for the champions, every match carries enormous stakes.
The action begins with a group stage from June 15 to 26, with each team playing three round-robin matches. The top two from each group move on to a knockout phase that builds toward the July 13 final.
Who is the favourite to win the Club World Cup?
PSG enter the 2025 Club World Cup as one of the favourites to win the tournament at a best price of 9/2 with various bookmakers.
They are the hottest picks among punters, attracting over a quarter of all bets through Oddschecker in the lead-up to the tournament.
The French champions are riding high after a dominant 5-0 win over Inter Milan secured their maiden Champions League title.
Drawn in a favorable Group B with Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, and Seattle Sounders, they’re well-positioned to progress.
However, a congested summer calendar could prove testing after a long season, especially with heavyweight clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich potentially waiting in the knockout rounds.
Despite falling short domestically and in Europe last season, Real Madrid remain a formidable force in any competition, and they are currently joint-favourites at 9/2 with AKBets.
Their remarkable Club World Cup record of 5 titles to date, underscores their knack for delivering on the big stage.
With Xabi Alonso bringing fresh ideas from the touchline, Los Blancos are eyeing their 6th Club World Cup title.
A relatively kind draw in Group H with Al Hilal, RB Salzburg, and Pachuca should allow them to ease into the tournament before stepping up in the knockout stages.
Manchester City return to defend the title they won so convincingly in the last edition of the tournament, and with Rodri back to orchestrate the midfield, they have a good chance of doing so.
They are a best price of 11/2 with BetMGM.
Placed in Group G with Juventus, Wydad AC, and Al Ain, Pep Guardiola’s side are expected to progress with minimal fuss.
However, a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, finishing third in the Premier League and exiting the Champions League in the playoffs, could make a repeat triumph more difficult.
Much will depend on how quickly their new signings settle into Guardiola’s demanding system.
