Club World Cup 2025: PSG Lead Revamped Power Rankings

Club World Cup 2025 kicked into overdrive with a breath-taking round of 16 that delivered giant-killings, late drama and a new favourite. The expanded tournament in the United States has already thrown the form book out of the window, and the surviving eight contenders now have just three matches separating them from immortality at MetLife Stadium on 13 July. Below, we update the landscape, analyse the paths to glory and unveil the latest power rankings.

Club World Cup 2025 Power Rankings

The following list blends current form, squad depth, coaching expertise and the newly published quarter-final bracket. Expect twists, but right now these are the sides holding the strongest hands.

1. Paris Saint-Germain

Luis Enrique’s men pulverised Inter Miami 4-0 in Orlando, a statement that restored the Parisians to pole position. Kylian Mbappé looks liberated, Ousmane Dembélé is tormenting full-backs and the midfield trio of Vitinha, Ugarte and Ruiz finally offers balance. With Chelsea rather than Real Madrid on their side of the draw, PSG have a clear runway to the final—provided they avoid complacency.

2. Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham’s late double against Juventus underlined Los Blancos’ unrivalled tournament DNA. Carlo Ancelotti’s only worry is a mounting injury list—Vinícius Júnior and Éder Militão remain doubts—but Madrid’s bench oozes quality. A possible semi-final with Bayern Munich feels like a de facto final.

3. Chelsea

Mauricio Pochettino’s youthful Blues did just enough to outlast Benfica in extra-time. Cole Palmer is thriving as a roaming playmaker, while Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo are tightening midfield screws. Defensive lapses persist, yet the Londoners have landed on the softer side of the bracket: upset PSG and anything becomes possible.

4. Bayern Munich

Harry Kane’s clinical brace helped dispatch Flamengo 3-1, but Thomas Tuchel still hasn’t found the perfect balance between aggression and control. Joshua Kimmich’s return to the No.6 role restored order, though a quarter-final with Borussia Dortmund—Tuchel’s former club—will be emotionally charged.

5. Borussia Dortmund

Edin Terzić masterminded a calm 2-0 victory over Monterrey, highlighted by Jadon Sancho’s sharp display. The defence, anchored by Nico Schlotterbeck, conceded just three shots on target. To climb higher, BVB must finally beat Bayern on a neutral stage—something they haven’t achieved since 2017.

6. Palmeiras

Abel Ferreira’s side edged Botafogo 1-0 thanks to a textbook counter-attack finished by Endrick. The Verdão press ferociously and transition even faster, but question marks linger over their ability to dominate possession against European heavyweights.

7. Al-Hilal

The Saudi champions shocked Manchester City 4-3 in the round’s biggest upset, with Aleksandar Mitrović bullying the Premier League defence. Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinković-Savić ensure midfield quality, but defensive gaps remain exploitable. Fluminense’s low block could frustrate them next.

8. Fluminense

Fernando Diniz channelled old-school catenaccio to stun Inter 1-0 in Charlotte, turning the Italians’ own heritage against them. A heroic display from goalkeeper Fábio kept the dream alive, yet Flu’s ageing core might struggle to replicate that intensity three more times.

Quarter-final Outlook

PSG vs. Chelsea and Al-Hilal vs. Fluminense occupy the left side of the bracket, while Real Madrid face Palmeiras and Bayern Munich lock horns with Borussia Dortmund on the right. Club World Cup 2025 organisers could not have scripted a more contrasting pairings: star-laden European clashes on one side, South American grit and Middle-Eastern ambition on the other. Crucially, the format minimises travel, allowing teams extra preparation days in their base cities—details that often swing knockout ties.

Key Storylines to Watch

The Mbappé Factor

No player has dominated Club World Cup 2025 quite like Kylian Mbappé. Five goals in two matches and a swagger that suggests unfinished business after last year’s Champions League disappointment. Chelsea’s defence must corral his inside runs; fail, and the semi-final ticket is Paris-bound.

European Civil War

Should Bayern and Real Madrid progress, their semi-final will be the 27th meeting between the clubs in continental competition. In New Jersey’s NFL-sized cauldron, the tactical chess match between Tuchel and Ancelotti promises fireworks.

South American Renaissance

With Palmeiras and Fluminense still alive, CONMEBOL has genuine hopes of ending Europe’s monopoly. Palmeiras’ blend of youth and pragmatism feels built for tournament football, while Fluminense have already shown they can suffer and survive against elite opponents.

Saudi Statement

Al-Hilal’s upset of Manchester City reverberated well beyond the United States. Another scalp would validate the Saudi Pro League’s spending spree and accelerate calls for its clubs to play in more global competitions.

Stat Pack

• Total goals in the tournament so far: 53 (average 3.31 per game)
• Clean sheets: Real Madrid (2), PSG (1), Borussia Dortmund (1)
• Top scorers: Mbappé (5), Kane (4), Bellingham (3)
• Most assists: Dembélé (3), Palmer (2), Rodrygo (2)

Road to MetLife: What Each Team Needs

Paris Saint-Germain

Maintain defensive concentration; Marquinhos and Skriniar cannot afford lapses against Chelsea’s pace.

Real Madrid

Manage fitness carefully. Ancelotti may rotate versus Palmeiras to ensure engines are firing for a possible Bayern clash.

Chelsea

Set-piece efficiency. PSG have looked vulnerable on corners, and Palmer’s delivery is inch-perfect.

Bayern Munich

Stop playing in bursts. Sustained control will limit Dortmund’s counter-attack opportunities.

Borussia Dortmund

Capitalize on width. Karim Adeyemi versus Alphonso Davies is a duel that could tilt the match.

Palmeiras

Exploit transition moments. Real Madrid’s patched-up back four is susceptible to diagonal balls behind the full-backs.

Al-Hilal

Improve defensive structure. They cannot offer Fluminense space between lines like they did City in the second half.

Fluminense

Stay clinical. Chances will be rare; Germán Cano must convert the one or two that come.

Verdict

Club World Cup 2025 has already delivered unforgettable drama, but quality usually rises as the rounds progress. PSG appear the most balanced outfit, while Real Madrid possess the strongest mentality. A PSG-Madrid final would be a dream showcase for global audiences—and a fitting climax to this groundbreaking edition.

Opinion: Neutral fans should root for variety, yet the prospect of Mbappé facing Bellingham on the biggest club stage is too tantalising to resist. Expect Paris and Madrid to march on, with Bayern the dark horse and Chelsea the wildcard that could blow everything up.