The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is heading into its decisive phase as the group stage gives way to the high-stakes knockout rounds. From June 28 to July 1, the top two teams from each of the eight groups will battle it out in the round of 16, aiming to keep their title hopes alive. The winners will advance to the quarter-finals scheduled for July 4 and 5, followed by the semi-finals on July 8 and 9. The tournament will culminate in the grand finale on July 13 at East Rutherford, New Jersey. As the dust settles on the group stage, four clubs have already punched their tickets to the round of 16:
1. Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich became the first club to book a spot in the knockout rounds with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors on Friday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Michael Olise’s 84th-minute strike, set up by Harry Kane, sealed the win for the German champions. Kane had earlier opened the scoring in the first half before Boca Juniors equalized through Miguel Merentiel in the 66th minute. Despite the challenge, Bayern maintained their perfect record (2-0-0, 6 points), having thrashed Auckland City 10-0 in their group opener. Boca Juniors (0-1-1) still have a slim chance to advance but must convincingly defeat Auckland City and hope Bayern beat Benfica on Tuesday.
2. CR Flamengo
Flamengo have taken the tournament by storm with back-to-back wins over Espérance Tunis (2-0) and Chelsea (3-1). The Brazilian side, bolstered by the marquee signing of Jorginho from Arsenal, have secured top spot in Group F thanks to superior head-to-head records. Under the guidance of coach Filipe Luís, Flamengo’s cohesive performances have made them early favorites for the title.
3. Juventus FC
Juventus cruised through the group stage, first dismantling Al Ain 5-0 and then following up with a clinical win against Wydad. The Italian side now sit at the top of Group G on goal difference, tied with Manchester City on points. Kenan Yildiz delivered a standout performance against Wydad, helping Juve bolster their goal difference ahead of a crucial final group match against City that could determine who tops the group and potentially gets a more favorable draw in the knockouts.
4. Manchester City FC
Manchester City advanced to the round of 16 with a dominant 6-0 win over Al Ain in Atlanta. Ilkay Gündogan led the charge with a brace, while Claudio Echeverri, Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb, and Rayan Cherki also got on the scoresheet. With two wins from two matches and an impressive +11 goal difference, City join Juventus in the next round. Their upcoming clash will decide who finishes first in Group G.