2025 Club World Cup Tier Rankings: Can Favorites Dominate, or is it Just a Summer Vacation for Some?

As the European season draws to a close, attention shifts directly to the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States from June 14th to July 13th. The 32-team tournament promises to be an exhilarating ride full of drama, intrigue, and perhaps a few surprises.

Among this melting pot of teams hailing from across the globe, it can prove daunting to discern who's the real contenders and who's merely along for the ride. How does one separate RB Slavia Prague's gritty European pedigree from HD Ulsan's impressive K-League exploits? And what is the unifying thread among these teams?

Fifteen of the 32 teams in contention have been crowned champions or finalists in their respective domestic leagues, with the other favorites boasting esteemed histories and an enviable trophy cabinet record.

However, it's equally clear that this isn't a tournament solely reserved for football giants. Legacy clubs, relegated sides seeking redemption, and the merely fortunate will also be represented, with each team's motivations uniquely shaped by their individual circumstances.

Ultimately, only three or four of these teams will have realistic aspirations to lift the coveted title. But what about those below? Will they enter as contenders, driven by a burning desire for victory, or perhaps simply content to rack up some tourist traffic and jersey sales during their U.S. sojourn?

These are the questions which will unfold before our eyes over the next few weeks, when 32 international football titans clash in what promises to be an unforgettable spectacle at 12 diverse stadiums across 11 U.S. cities.