The excitement is palpable ahead of the 21st edition of the Club World Cup, which will adopt a fresh new format. By the time Bayern Munich makes its way to the United States in June, they’ll be hoping to have secured their 34th Bundesliga title and potentially a seventh UEFA Champions League trophy along the way.
Bayern Munich at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Dates, Fixtures, Squad Details, Stats, Viewing Information, and More
After a four-year hiatus from FIFA’s premier club tournament, Bayern Munich earned their place in the 2025 Club World Cup thanks to UEFA’s coefficient pathway. As the most statistically dominant team in Europe that hasn’t captured the UEFA Champions League in the past four seasons, expectations are high for Bayern to advance deep into the tournament.
The newly expanded Club World Cup will kick off in mid-June, shortly after the conclusion of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Among 32 teams competing in the US this summer, Bayern will face formidable opponents from all six FIFA confederations. With a lucrative broadcasting deal and considerable sponsorship revenue, every participating club is guaranteed at least $50 million, irrespective of their performance.
In the following sections, we will delve into every aspect of Bayern Munich’s journey in this year’s Club World Cup. From schedules and squad details to key players, past achievements, broadcasting channels, and betting odds, we’ll provide comprehensive coverage.
Will Vincent Kompany inspire his squad to international glory, or will another manager lift the freshly designed Club World Cup trophy come July?
Fixtures, Schedule, and Opponents
The Bavarians will play all three of their group stage matches along the US eastern coast, visiting Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida. Bayern Munich will kick off their Club World Cup campaign less than 24 hours after the opening match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami, taking on OFC representatives Auckland City at the TQL Stadium.
Group Stage Match Fixtures
Match 1: Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City – Sunday, 15th June, 12:00 pm (TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH)
Match 2: Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors – Friday, 20th June, 9:00 pm (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL)
Match 3: Benfica vs. Bayern Munich – Tuesday, 24th June, 3:00 pm (Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC)
Take note that Group C and Group D will compete together in two of the eight Round of 16 ties, with Match 50 featuring the Group C winners against the Group D second-place team, while Match 52 pits the Group D winners against the Group C runners-up.
If Bayern finishes in either first or second place, they would face either Flamengo, Esperance de Tunis, or Chelsea in the knockout stage.
Bayern Munich’s Group Stage Rivals
Placed in Group C with Auckland City, Boca Juniors, and Benfica, Bayern Munich is expected to progress with ease to the knockout rounds. Despite being strong favourites to top their group, Vincent Kompany will ensure that his players don’t underestimate any opponents, as all three possess significant attacking capabilities and will be eager to take on one of the world’s most successful clubs.
Auckland City
New Zealand’s most successful club, Auckland City, boasts ten national league titles and has clinched the OFC Champions League trophy an astonishing twelve times. With eleven appearances in FIFA’s premier club competition, they hold the record for the most participants in its history.
The Navy Blues’ best performance came in 2014, when they secured third place in Morocco. After advancing past the preliminary round by defeating hosts Moghreb Tetuán in a penalty shootout, they triumphed over Algerian side ES Sétif before being eliminated by Copa Libertadores champions San Lorenzo in the semi-finals. Nevertheless, a victory in the third-place play-off against Cruz Azul sent them home on a high note.
Boca Juniors
Claiming one of CONMEBOL’s six qualification spots, Boca Juniors will be competing in their second Club World Cup. The Argentine giants reached the final in 2007, where they lost to Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded AC Milan side in Yokohama.
Despite their rich history, Boca has not secured any continental or international silverware since winning the Recopa Sudamericana in 2008, so they are very much due for another major achievement.
Benfica
Although Benfica has never participated in a Club World Cup, they are no strangers to the highest levels of club football. Having won back-to-back European Cups in the early 1960s, the Portuguese side has reached eight additional continental finals.
The Eagles are excelling under the guidance of former Wolves manager Bruno Lage, closely trailing Sporting Lisbon at the top of Liga Portugal after clinching the Taça da Liga title for a record-equalling eighth time earlier this year.
Broadcasting: Where to Watch Bayern Munich at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
DAZN has acquired exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2025 Club World Cup and will air all 63 scheduled matches. Fans will know exactly where to catch Harry Kane and his teammates in action this summer!
The streaming service has made the commendable decision to provide viewers with free access to live coverage of each match. Registered users can watch via smart TVs, web browsers, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles, and other compatible devices.
Joining DAZN as a basic user is free, but subscribers will need to pay for premium content. It’s worth noting that commentary will be available in multiple languages, and DAZN has the right to sub-license broadcasting rights to other channels.
Expected Lineup: Bayern Munich’s Potential Squad for the 2025 Club World Cup
While FIFA hopes all participating teams will field their strongest line-ups, some coaches may opt for a different approach. Given the increasingly demanding football calendar, concerns regarding player welfare have grown recent months. After a taxing season, it’s likely some players may be rested during this potentially exhausting competition.
As Bayern Munich continues to compete in both domestic and continental competitions as we approach the season’s climax, Vincent Kompany might consider giving key players a much-deserved break. However, he will undoubtedly be keen to build on his personal accolades and unlikely to disrupt the core group of his squad.
The Bavarians currently have an extensive injury list but are confident that many of the players will recover in time for the closing weeks of the season. Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is nearly back from his calf injury, while promising central defender Tarek Buchmann is expected to return in early April. Senior players Jonas Urbig (foot), Min-Jae Kim (Achilles), and Kingsley Coman (ankle) should all be fit by mid-April, although uncertainties remain regarding Aleksandar Pavlović (mononucleosis) for the summer.
A few players were loaned out during the January transfer window, but there’s a possibility they could be recalled for the tournament. Talented teenager Arijon Ibrahimovic is currently thriving in Rome with Lazio, while French Under-21 international Mathys Tel is on loan at Spurs until the end of the 2024/25 season. Youngsters Nestory Irankunda and Adam Aznou are currently on loan at Swiss side Grasshoppers and Spanish outfit Real Valladolid, respectively.
Projected Starting Lineup:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (captain), Daniel Peretz, Sven Ulreich, Jonas Urbig
Defenders: Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, Eric Dier, Hiroki Ito, Raphaël Guerreiro, Sacha Boey, Adam Aznou, Tarek Buchmann, Josip Stanisic
Midfielders: Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane, Joao Palhinha, Michael Olise, Alphonso Davies, Konrad Laimer, Adin Licina, Javier Fernández, Jamal Musiala, Arijon Ibrahimovic, Jonathan Asp Jensen, Aleksandar Pavlovic
Forwards: Serge Gnabry, Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman, Gabriel Vidovic, Thomas Muller, Mathys Tel, Nestory Irankunda
Key Players to Watch
With a host of Europe’s brightest talent at his disposal, Vincent Kompany has an enviable roster. We’ve narrowed down the top three key players for Bayern Munich, demonstrating their vital roles in the team’s success.
Joshua Kimmich
Versatile enough to operate as a box-to-box midfielder, deep-lying playmaker, or attacking full-back, Joshua Kimmich offers Vincent Kompany immense flexibility in tactics. A regular starter, the experienced German international could be on the verge of his 450th appearance for Bayern ahead of the Club World Cup.
Michael Olise
Since joining from Crystal Palace last summer, Michael Olise has dazzled Bayern Munich supporters with his stellar footwork, creative flair, and exceptional goal-scoring ability. Having racked up eight goals and assists in the Bundesliga this season, he has played a crucial role in propelling Bayern to the top of the table.
As an ongoing attacking threat, the gifted midfielder has netted five goals in the UEFA Champions League, including braces against Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Harry Kane
Regarded as one of the most lethal forwards in Europe, Harry Kane is adept at finding the back of the net in every conceivable situation. Though he has never previously participated in a Club World Cup, the 31-year-old Englishman has scored in all three major European club competitions.
By the close of a remarkable debut season in Bavaria, Kane led the scoring charts in both the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League with an impressive 44 goals in 45 competitive matches.
Betting Odds: Bayern Munich’s Chances of Winning This Year
After a disappointing 2023/24 season, Vincent Kompany has successfully revitalised Bayern Munich this year. After failing to secure a 12th consecutive Bundesliga title last season, the Bavarians now look to have regained their dominance domestically. No team in Germany’s top flight has scored more or conceded fewer than Bayern this season, highlighting their superiority.
Following a frustrating exit from the DFB-Pokal at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen, Kompany’s men ironically knocked out the reigning Bundesliga champions to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Given their current form, Bayern appears to have a solid chance of success, and bookmakers concur by naming them as the third favourites for the tournament.
Bayern Munich to win the Club World Cup: 7/1
Which other teams are anticipated to contend for glory on American soil this summer?
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola may be having one of the toughest seasons of his managerial career with City, but they remain the favourites to defend their Club World Cup title. Despite unexpectedly bowing out of the UEFA Champions League to fellow competitors Real Madrid, bookmakers still believe City have what it takes to prevail in the US.
To win: 7/2
Real Madrid
Currently in pursuit of an astonishing 15th UEFA Champions League title, Real Madrid is a club synonymous with success. As the only team to have secured five Club World Cups, few would be surprised if Los Blancos return to Spain with more silverware in July.
To win: 4/1
Chelsea
Entering the 2024/25 campaign with tempered expectations after a series of setbacks, Chelsea supporters will be thrilled by the progress made under Italian manager Enzo Maresca. Not only are they poised to secure a European berth, but the West London side has also breezed through the early rounds of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
To win: 9/1
How Did Bayern Munich Qualify for the 2025 Tournament?
Prior to the draw for the Club World Cup in December held in Miami, each confederation was allocated a specific number of spots in the tournament. UEFA will be the most represented confederation, with twelve European teams participating this summer.
According to FIFA regulations, any team that has claimed a premier continental championship in one or more of the past four seasons automatically qualifies for the 2025 Club World Cup. Since Real Madrid secured their 14th and 15th UEFA Champions League titles within this timeframe, only two other European clubs – 2020/21 champions Chelsea and 2022/23 victors Manchester City – could qualify this way. Bayern Munich last lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2020 and thus missed out on direct qualification.
The other nine European teams were selected based on UEFA’s coefficient model, which awarded points based on each club’s UEFA Champions League performances from the last three years, including the current season’s group stage.
With the second-highest coefficient points after only Manchester City and Real Madrid, Bayern successfully qualified through the ‘ranking’ route. They were eliminated in the quarter-finals in both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons after winning all six group stage matches on both occasions. Last season, they reached the semi-finals before falling to eventual champions Real Madrid, while five wins from eight in the current season secured their place in the knockout rounds.
Bayern Munich’s Kit for the 2025 Club World Cup
With millions of supporters expected to follow the events unfolding in the US this summer, launching a special Club World Cup kit presents a significant commercial opportunity for the participating teams. While it remains uncertain whether Bayern Munich will wear a specially designed jersey for the tournament, discussions regarding the design may already be underway.
Have Bayern Munich Ever Won the Club World Cup?
Bayern has thrived in both of its previous appearances in the Club World Cup, securing victory on both occasions. Due to the heavily seeded format of earlier editions, the Germans entered the 2013 and 2020 tournaments at the semi-final stage.
Bayern Munich’s inaugural Club World Cup campaign took place in 2013, qualifying through a thrilling UEFA Champions League final win over local rivals Borussia Dortmund that summer. Pep Guardiola’s squad convincingly defeated Chinese newcomers Guangzhou Evergrande to set up a final clash with Raja Casablanca. The Germans triumphed over the Moroccan hosts at the Stade de Marrakech, with first-half goals from Brazilian defender Dante and now-retired midfielder Thiago Alcantara.
After winning the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich arrived in Qatar for the postponed Club World Cup 2020. A brace from Robert Lewandowski saw off Al Ahly, as the Egyptians reached the semi-finals for the third time in 14 years. The Bavarians narrowly edged out Tigres UANL, the reigning CONCACAF Champions League titleholders, in the final, with Benjamin Pavard’s second-half goal distinguishing the two teams.
Consequently, Bayern is unbeaten in all four of their Club World Cup matches without having conceded a single goal. Although this extraordinary defensive record may be tested come mid-July, a third consecutive title is well within reach. Will Germany’s most successful club add yet another trophy to their already bulging cabinet? The answer will be revealed soon enough.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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