Man City Club World Cup opponents taking shape as giants qualify, Ronaldo out and Messi in frame

Manchester City might have only recently claimed the Club World Cup but the route to defending the trophy is beginning to take shape.. The Blues will head Stateside this summer for a pre-season tour and will return next year to defend the Club World Cup they won in December. That was part of a sensational five trophy haul in 2023 and City will have their eyes on more silverware in the next 18 months.. The Club World Cup has undergone a major and controversial facelift with the competition expanded to 32 teams, adding further matches to the football calendar. City will travel to the US as defending champions and while some details are yet to be confirmed, the list of participating teams is becoming clearer. Here’s everything you need to know.. ALSO READ: Man City have found the partnership that could win them the treble – but it’s not perfect. ALSO READ: Man City want more from fans but can’t have it both ways after latest ticket price rise. Who has already qualified?. Juventus and Borussia Dortmund have now booked their spots in the competition following European results this month. It means 10 of the dozen European slots are now filled. City are joined by Chelsea, courtesy of their Champions League win in 2021, while Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG have all qualified.. Porto, Benfica and Inter Milan complete the line-up so far. The remaining spots will go to the winners of this season’s Champions League and the next best placed team on the UEFA four-year ranking. Atletico Madrid or Barcelona are in prime position to take the latter spot. If the Champions League is won by a team already qualified then it will go the next best placed side in the ranking list.. Elsewhere, Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Leon, Palmeiras, Fluminense, Flamengo and Auckland City have also confirmed their participation.. Can Ronaldo or Messi still make it?. Yes and no. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr were in contention to take a slot if they won the AFC Champions League. Having progressed through qualifying, the group stage and the round of 16, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals this month.. For Messi, the dream remains intact. His Inter Miami side are still in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and face a quarter final next month with the winners of the tournament qualifying. Even if Miami are knocked out, there is still a route to qualification with the US, as hosts, having one slot to fill; the process of which will be decided at a later date.. When is the Club World Cup and what is the format?. The tournament runs from Sunday June 15 to Sunday July 13, 2025. The 32 qualifiers will be divided into eight groups of four with the top two progressing to the knockouts. There is no third place play off.. Who is hosting the Club World Cup?. The tournament takes place in America. Venues have yet to be confirmed but matches are expected to be staged on the East Coast to suit European broadcasters and viewers and avoid a clash with the Gold Cup which takes place primarily in the US at the same time but on the West Coast.

Â