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Man City learn final FIFA Club World Cup opponent as draw looms and Real Madrid question remains

Kyle Walker lifts the Club World Cup trophy

The complete line-up for the first expanded FIFA Club World Cup has been confirmed, after an eventful Copa Libertadores final on Saturday night when Manchester City learned their last potential opponent.

With 31 of the 32 teams already known for next summer's huge tournament in the USA, the winner of the Copa Libertadores - the Conmebol equivalent of the Champions League - was guaranteed the final place in next week's draw.

And despite being reduced to 10 men after just one minute, Botafogo beat their Brazilian counterparts Atletico Mineiro 3-1 to book their place in the USA, making it four sides from Brazil in the tournament.

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Despite a two-team limit per country, Brazilian sides have dominated the Copa Libertadores over the four-year qualifying period for the Club World Cup, earning automatic spots for the four different teams to win it over the last four years.

The result completes the line-up, with the following sides taking part in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup:

UEFA: Chelsea (ENG), Real Madrid (SPA), Man City (ENG), Bayern Munich (GER), PSG (FRA), Inter Milan (ITA), Porto (POR), Benfica (POR), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Juventus (ITA), Atletico Madrid (SPA), Red Bull Salzburg (AUS).

CONMEBOL: Palmeiras (BRA), Flamengo (BRA), Fluminense (BRA), River Plate (ARG), Boca Juniors (ARG), Botafogo (BRA).

CONCACAF: Monterrey (MEX), Seattle Sounders (USA), Club Leon (MEX), Pachuca (MEX), Inter Miami (USA).

AFC: Al-Hilal (KSA), Urawa Red Diamonds (JAP), Al Ain (UAE), Ulsan HD (KOR)

CAF: Al Ahly (EGY), Wydad AC (MAR), Esperance de Tunis (TUN), Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA).

OFC: Auckland City (NZL)

The draw for the group stage - which will be split into eight groups of four - will take place on Thursday, December 5, at 6pm UK time.

FIFA have not published details of the draw details or procedures. However, if they mirror the FIFA World Cup rules, groups will be limited to one club per confederation (aside from UEFA who are often allowed two teams per group due to their larger number of qualifiers). They would also avoid Chelsea as per UEFA and FIFA competition rules limiting one club or country per association per group in international competitions.

The draw is expected to be seeded as well. If the ranking points accumulated by clubs at the point of qualifying are used, City could be in the same pot as Flamengo, Palmeiras, Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Al Ahly, Bayern Munich and River Plate. That means they could potentially avoid Real or Bayern until the knockout stages, and only face one other European side in their four-team group.

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