Mamelodi Sundowns could have their qualification for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup confirmed as early as this weekend.
Sundowns play Young Africans this evening in the CAF Champions League, though their early qualification for the 2025 CWC will depend on what happens between ES Tunis and ASEC Mimosas. Should Tunis be eliminated by Mimosas this weekend, Sundowns’ spot will be guaranteed.
Previously FIFA confirmed that three African teams will qualify via the “champions pathway” and one via the “ranking pathway”. As previous winners of the CAF Champions League, Al Ahly and Wydad Athletic Club have already booked their spots, while the winner of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League will also qualify.
Should Al Ahly or Wydad win the current edition of the CAFCL again, the two highest-ranked teams will qualify via the ranking pathway, because Al Ahly won the competition in 2021 and 2023 and results between 2021 and 2024 are taken into account.
Currently, Sundowns are the third highest-ranked team behind Al Ahly and Wydad, ahead of Esperance de Tunis and Petro de Luanda.
Sundowns could either qualify by winning the current edition of the CAF Champions League or by remaining the highest-ranked team other than the last three CAFCL winners.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will take place between 15 June and 13 July in the United States of America. The 32 teams will be drawn in eight groups of four team, with the top two qualifying for the knockout stages.
