emirates7 - As the world focuses on the inaugural expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup 2025, AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has expressed strong confidence in the ability of Asia’s four participating clubs to deliver outstanding performances.
The tournament will showcase some of Asia’s top clubs — Al Ain FC from the UAE, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC, Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea, and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. A total of 63 matches will be held across 12 venues in 11 US cities, culminating with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.
Since the FIFA Club World Cup began, AFC teams have consistently been among the top three, with Al Hilal (2022), Al Ain (2018), and Kashima Antlers (2016) each finishing as runners-up — the best results ever achieved by Asian clubs.
Shaikh Salman stated, “On behalf of Asian football, I extend our best wishes to our four clubs and AFC match officials participating in this newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup. Our teams have repeatedly proven they can compete at the highest level, and I am confident they will continue to represent the AFC’s vision of success on the global stage.
“We also warmly congratulate FIFA. The FIFA Club World Cup embodies the ambitions of the global football community, including the AFC and its members, to establish a premier worldwide club competition reflecting the rising passion for continental club football. We wish FIFA and the United States great success in what promises to be a historic event for football.”
AFC Champions League 2022 winners Urawa Red Diamonds will kick off Asia’s campaign in Group E against Argentina’s CA River Plate on June 17 at 12 pm at Seattle’s Lumen Field. The three-time Asian champions will then face Italian giants FC Internazionale Milano at the same venue on June 21, followed by a match against 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup winners CF Monterrey in Los Angeles on June 25.
Ulsan Hyundai will begin their Group F campaign on June 17 at 6 pm at Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium, taking on South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns FC, who are returning to a FIFA competition after nearly a decade. The two-time continental champions, making their third global appearance, will then face 2023 FIFA Club World Cup runners-up Fluminense FC of Brazil at MetLife Stadium on June 21, before playing 2023/24 UEFA Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund from Germany on June 25 at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium.
Al Ain will open their Group G matches against Juventus FC, 36-time Italian champions, on June 18 at 9 pm at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. They will then meet England’s Manchester City, the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup champions, on June 22 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and will conclude against Morocco’s three-time CAF Champions League winners Wydad AC on June 26.
Lastly, four-time Asian champions Al Hilal will face Spain’s 15-time European and five-time world club champions Real Madrid C.F. on June 18 at 3 pm at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The 18-time Saudi Pro League champions will then play Austria’s 17-time champions FC Salzburg on June 22 at Audi Field before finishing their group stage against six-time Concacaf Champions Cup winners CF Pachuca from Mexico on June 26 at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
The tournament will showcase some of Asia’s top clubs — Al Ain FC from the UAE, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC, Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea, and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. A total of 63 matches will be held across 12 venues in 11 US cities, culminating with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.
Since the FIFA Club World Cup began, AFC teams have consistently been among the top three, with Al Hilal (2022), Al Ain (2018), and Kashima Antlers (2016) each finishing as runners-up — the best results ever achieved by Asian clubs.
Shaikh Salman stated, “On behalf of Asian football, I extend our best wishes to our four clubs and AFC match officials participating in this newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup. Our teams have repeatedly proven they can compete at the highest level, and I am confident they will continue to represent the AFC’s vision of success on the global stage.
“We also warmly congratulate FIFA. The FIFA Club World Cup embodies the ambitions of the global football community, including the AFC and its members, to establish a premier worldwide club competition reflecting the rising passion for continental club football. We wish FIFA and the United States great success in what promises to be a historic event for football.”
AFC Champions League 2022 winners Urawa Red Diamonds will kick off Asia’s campaign in Group E against Argentina’s CA River Plate on June 17 at 12 pm at Seattle’s Lumen Field. The three-time Asian champions will then face Italian giants FC Internazionale Milano at the same venue on June 21, followed by a match against 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup winners CF Monterrey in Los Angeles on June 25.
Ulsan Hyundai will begin their Group F campaign on June 17 at 6 pm at Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium, taking on South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns FC, who are returning to a FIFA competition after nearly a decade. The two-time continental champions, making their third global appearance, will then face 2023 FIFA Club World Cup runners-up Fluminense FC of Brazil at MetLife Stadium on June 21, before playing 2023/24 UEFA Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund from Germany on June 25 at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium.
Al Ain will open their Group G matches against Juventus FC, 36-time Italian champions, on June 18 at 9 pm at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. They will then meet England’s Manchester City, the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup champions, on June 22 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and will conclude against Morocco’s three-time CAF Champions League winners Wydad AC on June 26.
Lastly, four-time Asian champions Al Hilal will face Spain’s 15-time European and five-time world club champions Real Madrid C.F. on June 18 at 3 pm at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The 18-time Saudi Pro League champions will then play Austria’s 17-time champions FC Salzburg on June 22 at Audi Field before finishing their group stage against six-time Concacaf Champions Cup winners CF Pachuca from Mexico on June 26 at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.