Which teams could Real Madrid play in the FIFA Club World Cup?

Los Blancos know they will avoid three huge teams in Manchester City, Bayern and PSG.

Real Madrid will discover their group for the revamped Club World Cup this Thursday in Miami at 7:00 p.m.

The tournament, which will expand to 32 teams, is scheduled to take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025. FIFA has divided the participating teams into four pots, and Real Madrid already have a sense of their potential rivals. The draw, which is subject to certain conditions, will exclude some teams from being grouped together.

What pot are Real Madrid in?

Real Madrid are in Pot 1, which ensures they cannot face other teams in the same pot, including Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate, and Fluminense.

What teams can be drawn against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup?

Furthermore, the draw’s conditions mean Manchester City could only face Los Blancos in the semifinals at the earliest. However, the other two European teams, Bayern Munich and PSG, could meet Madrid in earlier rounds.

Pot 2 includes Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Porto, Atlético de Madrid, Benfica, Juventus, and Salzburg. According to FIFA’s draw rules, matchups must involve the four lowest-ranked European teams. As Atlético are excluded due to being from the same country as Real Madrid, Madrid could only face Benfica, Juventus, or Salzburg from this pot.

The remaining two teams in Madrid’s group of four will come from Pots 3 and 4, without any restrictions. Pot 3 features Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea), Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Monterrey (Mexico), Club León (Mexico), Boca Juniors (Argentina), and Botafogo (Brazil), the new Libertadores champions.

Pot 4 includes teams from North America and other regions, such as Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al Ain (United Arab Emirates), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Pachuca (Mexico), Seattle Sounders (USA), Auckland City (New Zealand), and Inter Miami (USA), featuring Lionel Messi.

Real Madrid also know that they cannot play another Spanish team - in this case Atlético Madrid - in the group stage. As with Champions League rules, teams from the same country cannot be drawn into the same group. Therefore, a Madrid derby in the Club World Cup would only be possible in the knockout stages.