The group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has delivered drama, surprises, and plenty of goals—and now, with Groups A and B officially concluded, the Round of 16 is beginning to take shape.
Group A: Inter Miami and Palmeiras Survive the Chaos
Group A came down to the wire, with all four teams—Inter Miami, Palmeiras, FC Porto, and Al Ahly—still in contention heading into the final matchday. In a thrilling 2–2 draw between Inter Miami and Palmeiras, both sides secured the points they needed to advance. Lionel Messi’s Miami side finished second in the group, while Palmeiras topped the table on goal difference.
FC Porto and Al Ahly, despite a wild 4–4 draw in their final clash, were eliminated with just two points each.
Group B: PSG and Botafogo Edge Out Atlético Madrid
Group B was arguably the “Group of Death,” and it lived up to the billing. Paris Saint-Germain bounced back from a shock loss to Botafogo by defeating Seattle Sounders 2–0 to clinch top spot. Botafogo, despite a narrow 1–0 loss to Atlético Madrid in their final match, advanced thanks to a superior head-to-head goal difference in a three-way tie on six points.
Atlético Madrid’s heavy 4–0 defeat to PSG in the opener proved fatal, knocking them out despite two wins. Seattle Sounders, meanwhile, exited without a point.
Confirmed Round of 16 Qualifiers (So Far)
With Groups A and B wrapped up, here are the eight teams that have already punched their tickets to the knockout stage:
- Palmeiras (Group A winners)
- Inter Miami (Group A runners-up)
- Paris Saint-Germain (Group B winners)
- Botafogo (Group B runners-up)
- Flamengo (Group D winners)
- Bayern Munich (Group C winners)
- Juventus (Group G)
- Manchester City (Group G)
Several other groups are still in play, with clubs like Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and River Plate battling for the remaining spots. The final group-stage matches will determine the full Round of 16 bracket, with knockout action kicking off on June 28.
As the tournament heads into its decisive phase, fans can expect more fireworks—and perhaps a few more upsets.
