FIFA has confirmed that participating teams in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be granted access to a special transfer window ahead of the global tournament set to take place in the United States.
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The groundbreaking registration period, which will run from June 1 to June 10, allows clubs such as Mamelodi Sundowns to strengthen their squads specifically for the expanded 32-team competition. Importantly, FIFA have set a deadline to submit final player lists, meaning any reinforcements signed during this short window will be eligible to feature in the tournament.
While this unprecedented opportunity may spark a flurry of activity for some teams, Sundowns Chairman Tlhopie Motsepe has played down any sense of urgency from the club's side, suggesting that the current squad may already be strong enough to compete on the world stage.
Speaking at the announcement of the club’s commercial partnership with Carling Black Label, Motsepe acknowledged the unique nature of the initiative and its potential appeal to supporters around the world.
“I think it's an exciting initiative by FIFA to allow clubs to do that,” he told journalists.
“As a fan of the game, I think every fan would be excited to see another transfer window that happens at this period of the year.”
However, when it comes to Sundowns' transfer approach, Motsepe underlined the stability and chemistry that exists within the current squad, and hinted that any additions would only be made if truly exceptional opportunities emerged.
“From our side, you know the squad that we have right now, the chemistry that we've created, it's been very stable and it's quite exciting to see that everybody's aligned to the vision of what we want to achieve in the Club World Cup.”
“That's not to say that we're not going to be looking at any potential players in the market. If something exciting comes up, we would look at it. But it's to say that at the moment right now, the team is so strong. The team looks so confident and the chemistry is so good, that it would have to be something quite special for us to capitalize on, really.”
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Sundowns qualified for the Club World Cup as CAF’s top-ranked club over the last four years, and are the only representative from Southern Africa in the inaugural 32-team format of the global showpiece.
With Miguel Cardoso's side currently in the hunt for the CAF Champions League title and having already sealed an eighth consecutive domestic league crown, there is growing confidence that the current group of players is battle-tested and experienced enough for the next step, competing against the best clubs in world football.
Whether or not the club will dip into the market during the short FIFA window remains to be seen, but based on Motsepe’s comments, Sundowns are unlikely to overhaul the squad just for the sake of it. Instead, the focus remains on cohesion, continuity, and carrying their momentum into North America.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on June 15, 2025 across multiple cities in the United States. Sundowns will be the first South African club to participate in the new format of the tournament.
