The format for the 2025 Club World Cup follows the same format to a 32-team international World Cup. 32 teams will be drawn into eight groups of four teams in each. The top two teams from each group will make it through the last 16, while the bottom two teams in each group will be eliminated.

FIFA announced in October that an "exceptional registration window" will open from June 1-10, allowing participating clubs to sign new players ahead of the Club World Cup. "The decision," as stated by FIFA, "as to whether or not to open an additional window remains at the full discretion of each FIFA Member Association concerned."

The news follows FIFA’s decision to remove Club Lèon from the tournament, less than three months ahead of its commencement in June.