FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Round of 16: Who’s Heading to the Knockout Stage?
The FIFA Club World Cup soccer trophy is displayed for public viewing Friday, May 16, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. The soccer trophy was displayed in Nashville as part of a tour before this summer's soccer tournament kicks off, with Nashville hosting three matches.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup has wrapped up, delivering a thrilling mix of expected dominance, shocking exits, and breakout performances. While giants like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain comfortably booked their places in the knockout rounds, the tournament wasn’t without its drama.
Here are the 16 clubs advancing to the knockout phase — with some predictable results, others, not so much.
In Group A, Palmeiras topped the group, while Inter Miami, clinched the second place. A very contested Group B saw Paris Saint-Germain finish first. But it was Botafogo, the South American Champion, who turned heads by securing second place — a huge achievement for the Rio de Janeiro club.
Over in Group C, Benfica managed to finish first ahead of the German powerhouse, Bayern Munich. Group D was another blockbuster, with Brazilian club Flamengo emerging on top and Chelsea comfortably taking the second spot.
In Group E, Inter Milan and C.F. Monterrey qualified in a group that tested both sides’ defensive discipline and attacking balance. Group F was headlined by Borussia Dortmund, who topped the group, while Fluminense grabbed second place thanks to their dynamic midfield and quick transitions.
Group G offered no surprises as Manchester City, with a perfect 9 points and Juventus secured their expected spots. City looked clinical, while Juventus showed enough steel to advance.
Lastly, Group H wrapped up with Real Madrid finishing first and Al Hilal grabbing a historic second-place finish.
On the flip side of the tournament’s early success stories, the group stage also delivered some major disappointments — none bigger than the shocking early exits of River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Atlético de Madrid.
Here’s how the Round of 16 match-up schedule for the FIFA Club World Cup will look like:
Saturday 28 June 2025
Palmeiras vs. Botafogo, 12:00pm at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
SL Benfica vs. Chelsea FC, 4:00pm at Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
Sunday 29 June 2025
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Inter Miami CF, 12:00pm at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
CR Flamengo vs. FC Bayern Munich, 4:00pm at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
Monday 30 June 2025
FC Inter Milan vs. Fluminense FC, 3:00pm at Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
Manchester City vs. Al Hilal, 9:00pm at Camping World Stadium (Orlando)
Tuesday 01 July 2025
Real Madrid CF vs. Juventus FC, 3:00pm at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
Borussia Dortmund vs CF Monterrey, 9:00pm at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)