The lineup of teams qualifying for the Round of 16 in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, currently being held in the United States, has been officially completed following the conclusion of the group stage. Spanish giants Real Madrid and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal advanced from Group H.
With this, Al Hilal becomes the sole Arab representative in the Round of 16, after the elimination of Egypt’s Al Ahly, Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca, Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis, and UAE’s Al Ain at the group stage, ending their journeys in the tournament.
The list of Round of 16 qualifiers includes a selection of the world’s top football clubs, such as the Brazilian quartet Palmeiras, Botafogo, Flamengo, and Fluminense, along with France’s Paris Saint-Germain, Germany’s Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, Portugal’s Benfica, England’s Chelsea and Manchester City, Italy’s Inter Milan and Juventus, Mexico’s Monterrey, Spain’s Real Madrid, the USA’s Inter Miami led by Argentine star Lionel Messi, and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.
The Round of 16 matches kick off tomorrow, Saturday, with an all-Brazilian clash between Palmeiras and Botafogo. In another highly anticipated matchup, Portugal’s Benfica faces off against England’s Chelsea.
The action continues on Sunday with two heavyweight clashes: Paris Saint-Germain takes on Inter Miami, while Flamengo meets Bayern Munich in a thrilling Europe vs. Latin America encounter. On Monday, the only fixture will see Inter Milan face Brazil’s Fluminense.
The competition resumes on Tuesday, with Al Hilal facing a tough test against European champions Manchester City in what is considered one of the standout matches of the round. That same day, Real Madrid will clash with Juventus in a classic football showdown.
The Round of 16 concludes next Wednesday with a match between Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Mexico’s Monterrey, wrapping up a crucial phase before the tournament heads into the quarterfinal stage.
