Strict FIFA Club World Cup 2025 rules include £445k fine

FIFA has unveiled the structure and guidelines for the upcoming 2025 Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13. In this newly expanded format, 32 clubs, including Real Madrid, will compete, with the tournament now scheduled to run every four years rather than every year.

The event will closely follow the structure of the World Cup, featuring eight groups of four teams. The top two clubs from each group will advance to the knockout rounds, starting from the Round of 16. These knockout matches will be single-elimination, unlike the two-legged format used in the UEFA Champions League.

Man City are the reigning Champions, and are actually one the outright favourites to win the Club World Cup next year, but they aren't the only English team who'll be taking part...

Below are the teams who will feature in this year's Club World Cup, with all 32 teams now being confirmed, as well as their odds of winning the competition.

As noted, some of the new rules for the FIFA Club World Cup tournament have been revealed, and one could land clubs with a fine worthy just shy of £500,000.

Fans theorised that clubs may opt to play second-string teams in the tournament, allowing their over-worked first-team starters to get some rest over the summer, but the rules state that clubs MUST play their strongest teams.

That's not all, as the rules state that if a club backs out of the tournament for whatever reason, they'll be handed a fine of 'at least £445,000'.

Below is a list of all of the rules

• Clubs have to field their strongest team.
• Clubs will receive a fine of at least £445,000 if they pull out of the tournament.
• Owners can’t have shares in more than one club in the tournament.
• Teams must arrive at base camp between three and five days before the first game.
• Each club’s provisional squad must contain between 26 to 50 players.
• Each club’s final tournament squad must contain between 26 to 35 players.
• FAs will be authorised to open a special transfer window between 1 to 10 June.
• Clubs can add a maximum of two players to their squad between 27 June to 3 July.
• Players can play for only one team.

It remains to be seen how FIFA is going to enforce the ruling on clubs having to play their 'strongest team' at the Club World Cup.

For example, if reigning champions Man City opt to play Nathan Ake over regular starter Josko Gvardiol, will that be considered as them not playing their strongest team? Only time will tell.

View the latest football odds.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.