The expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025, taking place in North America, is well underway, with the group stage nearing its completion. The tournament, featuring 32 of the world's top clubs, has already seen some thrilling matches and surprising results. Among the teams who have secured their places in the last 16 are Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund.
Inter Milan's path to the knockout stage wasn't entirely straightforward. Drawn into Group E, the Italian side faced tough competition from River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, and CF Monterrey. After drawing their first match 1-1 with Monterrey, Inter bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds. In a crucial match against River Plate on June 26th, Inter Milan secured their qualification with a 2-0 victory, topping Group E. Francesco Pio Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni were the heroes of the match, scoring the goals that sealed Inter's place in the next round. Inter qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 via the UEFA rankings pathway after consistently performing well in the UEFA Champions League over the past four years.
Borussia Dortmund also secured their spot in the last 16 after topping Group F. The German club was drawn alongside Fluminense, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Ulsan HD. Dortmund's journey included a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korean side Ulsan Hyundai. Daniel Svensson scored the decisive goal in the 36th minute, assisted by Bellingham. Dortmund finished as Group F toppers with 7 points. Dortmund qualified as the third-best ranked eligible team in the four-year ranking. Their promising performances in Europe, including a runner-up finish in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, helped bolster their record over the past few seasons.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 features a new format with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 16, followed by a single-match knockout stage. The final is scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Other teams that have already qualified for the round of 16 include Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus, Benfica, Chelsea, Botafogo, PSG, Inter Miami, Palmeiras and Flamengo.
As the tournament progresses, the competition is expected to intensify, with the world's best clubs vying for the title.
