Contract Issues in Club World Cup
Overview of the Tournament
The 2025 Club World Cup is set to take place in 11 cities across the United States, commencing on June 15, 2025. The tournament features 32 teams drawn into eight groups of four, with the final match scheduled for July 13, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Group Stage Details
Each group consists of teams that qualified through various continental tournaments. The matches are planned to take place in local times, which may be subject to adjustments.
Contract Resolution Timeline
FIFA has placed the responsibility on clubs participating in the Club World Cup to resolve any outstanding player contract issues. A designated window from June 1 to June 10 allows clubs to negotiate contracts for players whose agreements expire on June 30. If clubs reach an agreement within this timeframe, players can be released early from their contracts.
Short-term Contracts
In situations where a transfer is not finalized, clubs may need to negotiate short-term contracts to retain players during the tournament. For instance, if a player’s contract ends on June 30, they can only compete for their current team until that date unless a new agreement is reached. This flexibility allows for unique arrangements, including week-to-week contracts, as permitted by local laws.
Player Registration Regulations
FIFA stipulates that players cannot participate in the Club World Cup for one team and then sign with another during the tournament. Should a player leave their club on June 30, the team can replace them during a designated window from June 27 to July 3, ensuring squad integrity.
Group Matchups
Group A features Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, and Inter Miami, with matches starting on June 14. Other notable groups include Group B with Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid, and Group G with Manchester City, which will play against Wydad AC on June 18 in Philadelphia. Each group will see competitive matchups leading into the knockout stage.
Knockout Stage Format
The knockout stage will commence with the Round of 16 on June 28, leading to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final match on July 13 at MetLife Stadium. Each match will determine which teams advance to the next stage of the tournament.
