Abu Dhabi: As the world turns its attention to the inaugural expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has expressed confidence in the potential of Asia’s four participating teams to deliver exceptional performances.
According to Emirates News Agency, the tournament is set to feature some of the Continent’s most successful clubs: Al Ain FC from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC, Ulsan HD from the Korea Republic, and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. A total of 63 matches will be played across 12 venues in 11 host cities in the United States, with the Final culminating at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 13th July.
Since its inception, the AFC’s representatives have emerged among the top three sides in the FIFA Club World Cup, with Al Hilal (2022), Al Ain (2018), and Kashima Antlers (2016) achieving the Continent’s best performances by clinching the runners-up medal on three occasions.
Shaikh Salman stated, “On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to extend our best wishes to our four representative clubs as well as to all our AFC match officials participating in the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup. Our Asian teams have consistently demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest levels, and I am confident they will continue to embody the AFC’s Vision of succeeding on the world stage.”
AFC Champions League 2022 winners Urawa Red Diamonds will commence Asia’s pursuit for glory in Group E against Argentina’s CA River Plate on 17th June at the Lumen Field in Seattle. They will then face Italian giants FC Internazionale Milano at the same venue on 21st June, followed by a match against 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup winners CF Monterrey of Mexico at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles.
Ulsan HD will begin their campaign in Group F against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns FC on 17th June at the Inter and Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The two-time Continental champions will also face 2023 FIFA Club World Cup runners-up Fluminense FC of Brazil at the MetLife Stadium before meeting 2023/24 UEFA Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund from Germany on June 25 at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Meanwhile, Al Ain will open their campaign against Juventus FC in Group G at the Audi Field in Washington, D.C., on 18th June. They will then compete with England’s Manchester City at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and later against Wydad AC of Morocco on June 26.
Finally, four-time Asian club champions Al Hilal will be tested by Spain’s Real Madrid C.F. at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on 18th June. They will then face Austria’s FC Salzburg on 22nd June at the Audi Field in Washington, D.C., before concluding their group stage against Mexico’s CF Pachuca at the GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on 26th June.