2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Inter to face River Plate, Monterrey and Urawa Red Diamonds
Team
— Dec 5th 2024The Nerazzurri have been drawn into GROUP E and will kick off against CF Monterrey
The draw in Miami has spoken: Inter will face River Plate, Monterrey, and Urawa Red Diamonds in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. This was the outcome of the draw held in Miami, which outlined the path for the Nerazzurri, placed in Group E, in the inaugural edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Inter will take part in three unprecedented games: against River Plate from Buenos Aires (Argentina), who they once faced in a friendly in Milan in 1961, Club de Fútbol Monterrey (Mexico), friendly in 1994, and Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), again met in a friendly back in 2004.
On stage in Miami, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, accompanied by the 'Phenomenon' Ronaldo and Alessandro Del Piero, hosted the event before the draw that determined the eight groups of four teams each.
The World Cup will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, following the classic format of national team World Cups: 8 groups of 4 teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.
Simone Inzaghi's Inter will open up against the Mexican side Monterrey before facing the Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds on matchday two. The group stage will conclude with a clash against River Plate.
Inter, placed in Group E, will face one of the top two teams from Group F in the knockout stage if they advance. Group F includes Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, and Mamelodi Sundowns (first versus second, and vice versa).
“We are happy because we are in a competitive group and we will prepare in the best way possible for all three games. We have a very competitive side and we will prepare in the best way possible. The passion for football in this country is clear and this competition will definitely be watched by lots of fans. This is the first edition of this new format for the FIFA Club World Cup and will definitely allow everyone to see what sort of levels each team play at, I'm sure all of the clubs will be happy to take part. The tournament will start when the competitions are finished in Europe and most of the world, but the players will be well prepared and will do an excellent job to arrive in the best way possible. In our group, there's not just River Plate, but also Monterrey and Urawa Red Diamonds: nothing is ever given in these competitions. All of the games must be played with care and attention, also because we will see what sort of form the teams will be in come the end of the season. ”
Javier Zanetti, Vice President FC Internazionale Milano
THE DRAW LIVE
Inter have been drawn in GROUP E alongside River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds and CF Monterrery, who we will face in the opening match of the competition.
GROUP A
Palmeiras FC Porto Al Ahly FC Inter Miami CF
GROUP B
Paris Saint-Germain Atlético de Madrid Botafogo Seattle Sounders FC
GROUP C
FC Bayern München Auckland City FC CA Boca Juniors SL Benfica
GROUP D
CR Flamengo Espérance Sportive de Tunisie Chelsea FC Club León
GROUP E
River Plate Urawa Red Diamonds CF Monterrey INTER
GROUP F
Fluminense Borussia Dortmund Ulsan HD Mamelodi Sundowns FC
GROUP G
Manchester City Wydad AC Al Ain FC Juventus FC
GROUP H
Real Madrid Al Hilal CF Pachuca Al Hilal FC Salzburg
THE STADIUMS
Here are the 12 stadiums that will host the 63 games of the tournament in the USA: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA TQL Stadium – Cincinnati, OH Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC Rose Bowl Stadium – Los Angeles, CA Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, FL GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN MetLife Stadium – New Jersey (final) Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL Inter&Co Stadium – Orlando, FL Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA Lumen Field – Seattle, WA Audi Field – Washington, D.C.
THE FORMAT
The newest addition of the Club World Cup will be played in the United States from 15 June until 13 July 2025, one year before the World Cup 2026, which will also be hosted by the USA (in collaboration with Canada and Mexico).
The tournament will see the participation of 32 teams, divided in eight groups of four teams each. The top two of each group will proceed to the direct elimination phase, which will follow the classic structure of last-16, quarter finals, semi finals and final, for a total of 63 games. A match for the third place play-off will not be played.