In 2025, the international football scene will witness significant changes. The new 32-team Club World Cup will take place in the United States, and the expanded 48-team World Cup will gradually reveal its participating teams.

UEFA will run the Nations League and World Cup qualifiers concurrently. Under the new format, who will win the Champions League? Who will claim the 2025 Ballon d'Or?

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will continue their careers, while super talent Enner Valencia will reach new heights.

Highlight 1: Global Powers Head to the US, Canada, and Mexico

The main theme of international matches throughout 2025 will be the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Japan is expected to become the first non-host team to qualify for the World Cup finals in March.

In 2025, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will determine all 8 World Cup slots and 1 intercontinental playoff spot; the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will reveal 9+1 spots; the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) will produce 6+1 spots; the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) will generate 3+2 spots; Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) will yield 1+1 spots; and UEFA will initially secure 12 slots.

A total of 39 World Cup slots will be decided in 2025, with the remaining 4 European spots and 2 intercontinental playoff spots to be revealed in March 2026.

With the expansion from 32 to 48 teams, the World Cup will welcome more newcomers, allowing more countries to realize their World Cup dreams. The possibility of strong teams missing the World Cup will also decrease, and Italy is expected to return to the World Cup stage after 2014.

Highlight 2: Which Big Five Leagues' Champions Will Defend Their Titles?

The championship destinations of the Big Five Leagues are a regular rhythm in international football. Halfway through this season, only Paris Saint-Germain's title defense seems more stable.

In the English Premier League, Manchester City is experiencing its biggest trough since the era of financial power, and the dream of a five-peat is shattered. Under Slot, Liverpool is running away with the league, and the top 20 titles are just around the corner to equal Manchester United's record.

Inter Milan remains the biggest favorite to win Serie A, but Atalanta and Napoli are joining forces to block the way, making the defending champions' path full of thorns.

In La Liga, Real Madrid has not ended the suspense with Mbappé's arrival. Atlético Madrid is on a winning streak, and Barcelona is inconsistent. The top three teams are locked in a fierce battle at the top of the standings.

In the Bundesliga, Kompany's team is leading the way. Leverkusen's magic has weakened somewhat, but they are still only 4 points behind Bayern Munich. Will Kane win the first championship of his career in 2025?

Highlight 3: Who Will Reign Supreme in the New Club World Cup?

The biggest event in international football in the summer of 2025 is the new Club World Cup hosted in the United States. This is an unprecedentedly large-scale Club World Cup, with the opening match featuring Messi's host Miami International against African powerhouse Al-Ahly.

The format of the 32-team Club World Cup is the same as that of the 32-team World Cup. European heavyweights such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Juventus, Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid will gather. Teams from six continents will come together. What sparks will this large-scale global club collision create? Who will become the true world champion club?

From June 14 to July 13, 2025, the US Club World Cup will hold 63 matches over nearly a month. The opening match in Miami will start at 8 a.m. Beijing time, and European heavyweights will also have matches at 9 a.m. Chinese fans can enjoy the charm of the new Club World Cup on summer mornings.

Highlight 4: Who Will Lift the Champions League Trophy Under the New Format?

The 2024-25 Champions League season will see historic changes. The number of teams in the group stage will increase from 32 to 36, and the original 6-round group stage format will be replaced by an 8-round league stage format.

The additional playoff zone for teams ranked 9-24 means these teams will have to play two more matches. The number of matches a team needs to win the Champions League in a single season will increase from 13 to a maximum of 17.

Champions League king Real Madrid is facing difficulties under the new format, but as long as they make it into the top 24, anything is possible. Liverpool has shown an unstoppable momentum. Can Slot carry his magic all the way to the end? Who will be the dark horse that surprises everyone, and who will stumble and fall at the doorstep of the knockout stage? By the end of the season, which two leagues will take the additional Champions League spots?

In a year without the World Cup or continental national team tournaments, the Champions League winner will directly affect the final recipient of a major award.

Day by day, we bid farewell to 2024, and year by year, we look forward to 2025. The coming 365 days are filled with unknown surprises and sudden goodbyes, but we will always have football with us. These 365 new pages are waiting for us to turn together!