Whether or not Al Ahly, Wydad, Espérance, or Sundowns lift the trophy, their participation matters, for themselves and for those who will take part in future editions of the Club World Cup.

By Tuka Letura 

This weekend marks the transformation of what was once a niche mid-season football contest. featuring just seven teams, each from FIFA’s six continental confederations and the host nation, into one of the most ambitious undertakings in global sport: the reimagined FIFA Club World Cup. With 32 elite football clubs competing across 11 U.S. cities, the tournament will span over a month, from 15 June to the final at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium on 13 July.

The 2025 tournament marks the first full-scale iteration of FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup: eight groups of four teams, a round of 16, and a $1 billion prize pool. Top clubs from six confederations converge not just for trophies, but for prestige, revenue, and brand elevation.

A club reaching the final can earn up to $125 million, an amount that dwarfs the annual budgets of most African teams. Even participating clubs will receive nearly $10 million in appearance fees. For the Confederation of African Football’s four representatives, this is not merely about footballing ability—it is a transformational opportunity for both financial growth and global visibility.

Yet, alongside the excitement, there are concerns. The tournament falls within an already congested June–July window, clashing with domestic calendars and off-season recovery periods. Global players’ union FIFPRO has warned of burnout, particularly for clubs with thinner squads and demanding travel schedules. For African sides, many of whom compete in grueling local and continental fixtures year-round, maintaining this level of intensity presents a significant challenge.

CAF has been allocated four slots at the Club World Cup, determined through a system that rewards both short-term excellence and long-term consistency. These slots were awarded based on two key criteria: winning the CAF Champions League during the qualification period (2021–2024), and ranking among the highest in CAF’s four-year club performance system, which reflects sustained success in continental competitions.

• Al Ahly (Egypt) secured their place by winning the 2020–21 CAF Champions League. Widely regarded as Africa’s most decorated club, Al Ahly continues to set the standard for excellence on the continent.
• Wydad AC (Morocco) followed as the 2021–22 Champions League winner, earning a deserved spot among Africa’s elite.
• Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) earned qualification through the CAF club ranking system, emerging as the highest-ranked club not to have won the Champions League during the qualification window.
• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) completed the lineup, claiming the final slot based on their consistent performance across multiple seasons as reflected in CAF’s four-year performance index.

THE GROUPS 

Al Ahly – Group A

Opponents: Inter Miami (USA), Palmeiras (Brazil), FC Porto (Portugal)

Al Ahly enters Group A with a blend of historic prestige and pragmatic discipline. Their alternating 4-3-3/4‑2‑3‑1 setup is built around midfield control and swift transitions, marshaled by the likes of Emam Ashour, Percy Tau, and Hussein El Shahat, and steered by Spanish coach José Riveiro.

They face three stylistically diverse teams from across three continents. 

• Inter Miami, representing American flair and star-driven football (and possibly Messi-led finesse),
• Palmeiras, a technically robust and high-intensity Brazilian side, and
• FC Porto, masters of tactical precision and European tempo.

In this melting pot, the four-time bronze medalist in the competition must lean on their FIFA Club World Cup experience and adaptability. Every match will demand a little more than it did in previous editions if they wish to progress. Their chances are evenly balanced as the top two progress into the knockouts. 

Espérance de Tunis – Group D

Opponents: Chelsea (England), Flamengo (Brazil), Los Angeles FC (USA)

Espérance relies on the tactical ability of Maher Kanzari, who tweaks his side into a 4‑3‑3 or 3-4-3 primarily, to match the opposition. They love to control games with smart possession play. Their group presents both European might and South American flair:

• Chelsea brings pace, pressing, and depth from the Premier League, and on the back of their UEFA Conference League win, are favourites in the group. 
• Flamengo, who nicked two titles this season, will also fancy their chances as they will bank on their previous Club World Cup experience, when they were runners-up in 2019
• LAFC are currently one of the most in-form American sides and could make progression more difficult for Espérance.

To survive, Espérance must dictate rhythm, suffocate chaos with structure, and capitalize on narrow openings. Their key strength, defence, will be tested to its limit.

Mamelodi Sundowns – Group F

Opponents: Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Fluminense (Brazil), Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea)

Sundowns’ nickname, “The Brazilians”, says it all. Their style is fluid, expressive, and possession-based, built around players like Lucas Ribeiro and Teboho Mokoena. Their tactics echo South American rhythm, with strong technical and positional awareness, but they will be facing that as well. 

• Dortmund presses with high energy and youthful verve,
• Fluminense, their stylistic cousin, plays a refined, tactical version of the jogo bonito.
• Ulsan Hyundai brings Asian structure and efficiency, likely to challenge Sundowns’ space usage.

This group offers philosophical duels, especially the poetic clash with Fluminense. Sundowns’ strength will be in embracing their identity while adapting to opponents’ discipline. It’s not the easiest, but Sundowns possess enough to progress. 

Wydad AC – Group G

Opponents: Manchester City (England), Juventus (Italy), Al Ain (UAE)

Wydad Casablanca faces a daunting challenge in what may be the toughest group for any African team at the Club World Cup. They are up against two European giants: Manchester City and Juventus. To have any hope of progressing, they will need to play with clear intent and make the most of every match. Realistically, their chances of advancing are slim, but in football, surprises do happen.

• Manchester City, arguably the world’s best side, demands defensive perfection,
• Juventus, tactically mature and transition-savvy, will punish positional slips,
• Al Ain, while more beatable, is a familiar regional foe with strong support and tactical savvy.

Wydad’s path is narrow, but with tactical flexibility and mental resilience, they can grind out results.
This tournament isn’t just about pride; it’s about structure, reform, and sustainability from an African football perspective. A group-stage exit still yields millions in participation funds, but a Round-of-16 berth doubles both revenue and exposure. For clubs whose annual budgets sometimes fall below $5 million, this is era-defining.

For national leagues and CAF itself, the Club World Cup serves as a proof of concept: can African clubs compete commercially and tactically on a global stage? Knockout qualification would signal progress. Even if that target is missed, strong performances and individual showcases could boost domestic visibility and global transfer potential.

Still, some caution against short-term thinking. The chances of going all the way remain—and that’s the least anyone should expect from the continent’s elite football clubs.

Whether or not Al Ahly, Wydad, Espérance, or Sundowns lift the trophy, their participation matters, for themselves and for those who will take part in future editions of the Club World Cup.

Match schedule and updates are available on FIFA’s Official Website here.

Tuka Letura is an experienced sports writer with over six years of experience in the craft. He uses data and statistics to provide analysis and commentary. From regional to worldwide competitions, he has covered a wide range of sports-related events and topics. He is devoted to sharing his enthusiasm for sports with his audience and engaging them with interesting anecdotes and viewpoints.

Cover photo credit: SuperSport

The post Africa at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup first appeared on Afrocritik.

For the first time in the history of the FIFA Club World Cup, four African clubs will take the global stage when the expanded tournament kicks off in the United States on Sunday, June 15. Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) will represent the continent in what is being billed as a new era for club football.

The Club World Cup isn't new — it's been around since 2000 — but this year is different. The tournament has been supersized. Instead of seven teams and a quick knockout format, 2025's edition features 32 clubs, a group stage, and a month-long run across 11 U.S. cities. It ends on July 13 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Nigerian star Tems will headline the tournament's first-ever halftime show. Sixty-three matches. Sixty-three chances for clubs outside Europe and South America to prove they belong.

Africa has never had more than one team at a time in the Club World Cup. That changes this year. For decades, the continent's champions showed up, played one or two games, often against vastly better-resourced clubs, and went home. The two exceptions? The Democratic Republic of Congo's TP Mazembe's stunning run to the final in 2010 and Morocco's Raja Casablanca's underdog story that saw the team make it to the 2013 final. Neither team won, but both defied expectations and reminded the world that African clubs are not just here to participate.

Now, four of the continent's most dominant teams are in the mix, and they're not just going for the experience. They're playing for serious money and long-overdue respect. The four African teams are guaranteed at least $9.55 million just for qualifying, which is more than double the $4 million prize for winning the African Champions League. The same applies to clubs from Asia, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. In contrast, South America's clubs will all get $15.21 million for qualifying, and the European clubs will receive qualification payments from $12.81 million to $38.19 million.

A win in the group stage earns an additional $2 million; a draw, $1 million. The ultimate winner takes home $40 million.

Al Ahly, the most decorated club in Africa, opens against Inter Miami and Lionel Messi. Espérance, back in the tournament for the first time since 2019, is drawn into a tough group with Chelsea, Flamengo, and LAFC. Wydad starts against Manchester City before facing Juventus and Al Ain. Sundowns will meet Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, and Fluminense.

Espérance coach Maher Kanzari says he expects his team to play its matches "with passion and enthusiasm. The most important thing is that we honor the shirt – both Espérance's colors and the name of Tunisia itself." FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the new tournament marks "a new era of football." That future includes Africa, but not equally. While UEFA sends 12 teams and CONMEBOL sends six, CAF gets just four. Hersi Said, chairman of the African Club Association, says that needs to change. "We need to push for more numbers in the next editions," he told the BBC. "It's a platform we need to showcase our potential."

Back on the global stage

OkayAfrica caught up with Mamelodi Sundowns legends Hlompho Kekana, Tiyani Mabunda, and Teko Modise yesterday in New York City. The three were part of the Sundowns team that played in the 2016 Club World Cup. Yesterday, June 12, they took part in a rooftop four-a-side tournament that also featured teams representing Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.

"Unbelievable for us as Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa, to be right here again in the Club World Cup," Mabunda tells OkayAfrica. "This time, I'm coming to support the boys, just to give them that extra courage. Where they are now, it's a global stage."

Sundowns finished sixth out of seven in 2016. Now, with a stronger squad and deeper international experience, there are bigger expectations. "We do have a better team this time around," says Modise. "Look at the teams that are part of the Club World Cup. Those are teams that you normally never had an opportunity to play against. It's good for the boys to check themselves as to how far they are," he tells OkayAfrica.

More than a tournament

The expanded format doesn't just bring visibility. It brings questions. Can this global spotlight elevate African domestic leagues? Can it boost investment in infrastructure, training, and talent pipelines? Will the massive prize money filter back into African football systems, or will it simply serve as a payday for a few top-tier clubs?

The stakes are especially high for Sundowns. Backed by Patrice Motsepe, South African mining billionaire and President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Pretoria-based club has dominated the local Premier Soccer League for years. But success at home hasn't always translated to global recognition. "This is a great experience for the club," Kekana tells OkayAfrica. "It's a platform to showcase what they've got in Africa. The world will know more about South African football now."

For Kekana, the expanded tournament means one thing: opportunity. "The playing field is now leveled. The opportunities that the other teams got, we finally got them. It's about time that we show the world what we've got."

Carrying the continent

The four African clubs aren't just representing their cities or countries. They carry the hopes of a continent that has long been underrepresented in global club football.

"African football is a conversation all over the world now," says Modise. "We've been internationally recognized, and to see many teams coming into the USA to represent Africa, it's dope. It's something that we've been fighting for."

Each former player OkayAfrica spoke with emphasized the importance of not just participating but also showing up and making a statement. "Play so that when you look back, you can say, I really enjoyed my time," Modise says. "These moments don't come often."

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The bigger picture

For young Africans watching, four teams from the continent being in the tournament sends a clear message. Your dreams can go global, not just as a player but as part of a club making waves internationally. "African players have shown all over the world that we're good," says Kekana. "We've got talent. We've got what it takes to win a major tournament."

The next few weeks will reveal whether African clubs can not only compete but also dominate. Whether they advance or not, one thing is clear: they belong.