For a dozen UEFA clubs, this year will have a special significance, with the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ in June and July already circled on their calendar. One thing uniting all the clubs who are representing Europe is that they will be aiming to arrive in the USA in top form.

To do so, the European outfits will need to navigate some tough challenges, some of which are just around the corner. FIFA takes a look at what awaits the 12 European Club World Cup qualifiers over the coming weeks.

Atlético de Madrid
La Liga: 2nd
UEFA Champions League: 11th

If there is one team starting the year with the wind in their sails, it’s Atlético. Having won their first match of 2025 in the Copa del Rey against Marbella 1-0 on 4 January, Los Colchoneros extended their winning streak to 13 consecutive matches in all competitions. Sitting just two points behind Real Madrid in La Liga with a game in hand, and ideally placed to progress in the Champions League, Atleti are in contention on all fronts and have every chance of heading to the Club World Cup in high spirits.

FC Bayern München Bundesliga: 1st UEFA Champions League: 10th
Before heading off to compete in the Club World Cup, Bayern have a serious score to settle on the domestic scene: namely regaining the Germain league crown, which was wrested away from them by Bayer Leverkusen last June, after 11 straight years as champions. The slender four-point lead held by Vincent Kompany’s men over the reigning champions means that the battle for the Bundesliga will likely go down to the wire. The Bavarians are also in a strong position in the Champions League, and will undoubtedly have ambitions on the European stage in the coming months.

SL Benfica
Primeira Liga: 3rd
UEFA Champions League: 15th

Three points clear of the elimination places with two matches remaining, Benfica look well placed to extend their adventure in the Champions League beyond the first round. However, Angel Di Maria and his team-mates will first need to navigate a tricky conclusion to this phase of the competition as they entertain Barcelona on 21 January, before travelling to Juventus on 29 January. With the aim of arriving in the USA in top form, the club from the Portuguese capital will be hoping, above all else, that they can regain their crown in the Primeira Liga. At the moment, though, it is neighbours and reigning champions Sporting who occupy first place, albeit with just a three-point lead.

Borussia Dortmund
Bundesliga: 6th
UEFA Champions League: 9th

Borussia Dortmund have had mixed fortunes so far this season. Aside from defeats against Real Madrid (5-2) and Barcelona (3-2), last year’s Champions League finalists are performing well in Europe’s most prestigious competition, and should at the very least qualify for the play-offs. In the Bundesliga, however, the situation is more complicated, with the club from the Ruhr in sixth place and just two points ahead of Stuttgart in tenth. If they are to start the Club World Cup with a more positive outlook, Nuri Sahin and his players will certainly want to at least finish in the top four and thus qualify for the Champions League again.

Chelsea FC
Premier League: 4th
UEFA Conference League: 1st, qualified for the round of 16

Having failed to qualify for the Champions League for the second season in a row, the 2020/21 winners look to be on the up again. After having to settle for a place in the Conference League, the Blues have decided to go all in, finishing the first phase of the competition with six victories from as many games. The Londoners seem determined to win Europe’s newest competition, and will surely only be able to play with freedom next June if they succeed in returning to the Champions League, which will mean finishing in the top four in the Premier League. Currently sitting fourth, Enzo Maresca’s team are four points clear of eighth place and the same number of points behind second.

FC Internazionale Milano
Serie A: 3rd
UEFA Champions League: 6th

Aside from chasing titles, Inter will most certainly be looking to maintain their excellent defensive record during the five months leading up to the Club World Cup. With the joint-best defence in the league phase of the Champions League (one goal conceded in six matches), and the second-best defence in Serie A (15 goals conceded in 17 matches), Simone Inzaghi’s side excel in the art of shutting out the opposition. If the Nerrazurri continue to keep it tight at the back and thus succeed in retaining their domestic title and embarking on another deep European campaign, their opponents in the USA would have plenty to think about.

Juventus FC
Serie A: 5th
UEFA Champions League: 14th

Having had a fresh start last year with Thiago Motta arriving in the dugout, Juve are a very hard team to work out at the start of 2025. With just two defeats in all competitions this season, the Turin giants have been involved in a huge number of draws (11 in the league alone) and will inevitably need to boost their win ratio going forward. The club’s continued progress in Serie A and the Champions League, as well as the Club World Cup, depends on it.

Manchester City
Premier League: 6th
UEFA Champions League: 22nd

Manchester City’s players and supporters have to believe that, with five months still to go between now and the start of the Club World Cup, they will have enough time to regain their confidence. Having made an excellent start to the season and been touted as one of the favourites for the world title, the Citizens have lost their way in recent weeks, jeopardising their Premier League title hopes and casting doubt on their Champions League chances. The upcoming meetings with PSG (22 January) and Club Brugge (29 January) will be crucial, as the Manchester side endeavour to stay on course in Europe and begin their recovery.

Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1: 1st
UEFA Champions League: 25th

PSG are once again on course to win Ligue 1 with a seven-point lead over rivals Marseille, but they are faltering in the Champions League, sitting one point behind the knockout phase play-offs with just two matches left in the league phase. Their home tie with Manchester City on 22 January is crucial and will also affect the away trip to Stuttgart a week later. If PSG’s journey in the Champions League were to end in January, they would certainly be missing out on a valuable opportunity to prepare for the Club World Cup.

FC Porto
Primeira Liga: 2nd
UEFA Europa League: 18th

Alongside Chelsea, Porto are the only other European representative at the Club World Cup not to be competing in this season’s Champions League. Currently in the Europa League, Vitor Bruno’s players still have work to do as they are just one point above the elimination zone. The forthcoming home game against reigning Conference League champions Olympiacos on 23 January and the tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv on 30 January will be pivotal. Without a domestic title since 2021/22, Porto currently sit in second, a point behind Sporting with a game in hand. They should therefore have plenty of opportunities to gain some momentum in the run-up to the Club World Cup.

Real Madrid C.F.
La Liga: 1st
UEFA Champions League: 20th

Current Champions League holders and FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024™ winners Real Madrid find themselves in great danger in the European competition. Sitting just 20th after six matches, Vinicius Jr and his colleagues cannot afford to relax in their two upcoming matches against FC Salzburg (22 January) and Brest (30 January). An early exit from the Champions League would represent a serious blow to the Madrid side’s morale ahead of the Club World Cup. Despite inconsistent form, Carlo Ancelotti’s men are currently top of La Liga, having played one more game than neighbours Atlético, and will need to dig deep if they want to retain their title.

FC Salzburg
Austrian Bundesliga: 5th
UEFA Champions League: 32nd

The sole UEFA representative at the Club World Cup without a single European title to their name are also the club that appear to be in the most difficulty at the start of this year. On the verge of being eliminated from the Champions League with just one win in six matches, the Austrian club will fight for their survival against Real Madrid (22 January) before entertaining Atlético the following week. Having lost the Austrian Bundesliga title to SK Sturm Graz last May – the first time they failed to win the competition since the 2012/13 season – the Salzburg club are currently down in fifth place in the league and will be anxious to make significant progress ahead of the global showpiece in the USA.