The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, held from June 14 to July 13 in the United States, concluded with a significant setback for African football as none of the continent's four representatives managed to advance to the Round of 16. This expanded 32-team tournament, which was expected to offer new opportunities, saw Al Ahly of Egypt, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, Esperance Tunis of Tunisia, and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa all falter in the group stage against formidable global opponents.

The group stage proved to be a challenging crucible for the African quartet. Al Ahly, Africa’s most decorated club, entered with considerable expectations in Group A. Their campaign began with a goalless draw against Inter Miami, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Palmeiras. They concluded their group matches with a thrilling 4-4 draw against FC Porto, showcasing offensive flair but ultimately being undone by defensive vulnerabilities. The Egyptian giants finished at the bottom of their group with just two points, extending their unenviable record to 15 Club World Cup losses, the highest in the competition’s history. Despite receiving $9.5 million for their participation, their early exit was a considerable blow to their continental prestige.

Esperance Tunis, competing in Group D, managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Los Angeles FC, a testament to goalkeeper Bechir Ben Saïd’s standout performance. However, this solitary triumph was overshadowed by heavy defeats to Flamengo (2-0) and Chelsea (3-0), leaving them in third place in their group with three points. While the win earned them an additional $2 million on top of their participation fee, Esperance's struggle to match the intensity, depth, and tactical prowess of the elite European and South American clubs highlighted inherent structural limitations within their team.

Wydad Casablanca faced an exceptionally tough challenge in Group G, drawn alongside European powerhouses Manchester City and Juventus. Their campaign ended without a single point, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against City and a 4-1 loss to Juventus. Despite these defeats, Wydad demonstrated flashes of resilience, and Thembinkosi Lorch notably scored the team’s only goal of the tournament, making history as the first Moroccan player to score against Juventus. The substantial financial reward of $9.5 million for participation could not compensate for their competitive shortcomings and the inability to advance from such a demanding group.

Mamelodi Sundowns, the 2016 CAF Champions League winners and Africa’s last hope, competed in Group F. They began their journey promisingly with a 1-0 victory over Ulsan HD, which added $2 million to their earnings. However, their hopes were dashed following a high-scoring 4-3 thriller loss to Borussia Dortmund and a crucial 0-0 draw against Fluminense. Despite standout performances, notably from Lucas Ribeiro, Sundowns' failure to secure a vital win against Fluminense ultimately cost them progression. Their total prize money of $12.5 million was the highest among all African teams, but it did little to alleviate the disappointment of their early departure.

Collectively, African teams participated in 12 group stage matches, recording only 2 wins, 3 draws, and 7 losses. Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance Tunis were the only African clubs to secure victories. While the combined prize money, exceeding $45 million for participation and wins, provided significant financial benefits, the profound lack of competitive success left a stinging sense of underachievement across the continent.

Historically, African clubs have faced consistent struggles in the FIFA Club World Cup against dominant European and South American contenders. Al Ahly, with nine appearances, holds the record for most defeats (15), although they have secured four bronze medals in previous editions (2006, 2012, 2020, 2021). Only TP Mazembe in 2010 and Raja Casablanca in 2013 have managed to reach the final, demonstrating the significant hurdle African teams face. Wydad Casablanca, in their third appearance, and Esperance, in their fourth, have yet to move past the group stage. Mamelodi Sundowns, in their second outing, showed glimpses of promise but could not replicate a deeper run. The 2025 tournament's expanded format had fueled hopes for a breakthrough, but the outcomes regrettably mirrored past challenges, with no African club advancing beyond the group stage since the competition's inception in 2000.