By 
In a landmark decision that could reshape team dynamics ahead of the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, the global football governing body FIFA has approved a special transfer window allowing participating clubs to strengthen their squads and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns are poised to take full advantage.
The unique registration period, running from June 1 to June 10, 2025, permits all qualified teams to sign new players for the tournament, which kicks off on June 14 in the United States.
Sundowns, one of four African representatives alongside Egypt’s Al Ahly, Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club and Tunisia’s ES Tunis will be eligible to register new recruits as they prepare to face some of the world’s elite clubs on the grand stage.
This exceptional move is designed to address the disparity in transfer window timings across the 20 Member Associations involved which include football powerhouses like Brazil, England, Germany, and Italy, as well as South Africa.
The final squad lists for all clubs must be submitted by June 10, ensuring that new signings are eligible for immediate participation.
FIFA has also announced a limited in-competition registration window between June 27 and July 3, allowing further tactical adjustments during the tournament, subject to certain conditions, a decision likely to enhance the competitiveness of the event.
For Mamelodi Sundowns, this presents an ideal opportunity to bolster their roster as they juggle domestic dominance and continental aspirations.
Fresh off clinching the 2024 South African Premiership title and on the brink of a second CAF Champions League crown, the Pretoria-based club enters this new chapter with both momentum and pedigree.
Their path to the CAF final has been anything but straightforward. After edging past reigning champions Al Ahly on away goals in a dramatic semi-final, Sundowns now face Egypt’s Pyramids FC in a two-legged final.
The first leg kicks off this Saturday at Loftus Versfeld, with the return leg set for June 1 in Cairo, coinciding with the opening day of the special FIFA-sanctioned transfer window.
Despite being one of the continent’s most consistent clubs, reaching at least the quarter-finals in seven of the last eight CAF Champions League campaigns, Sundowns have battled the stigma of falling short in the latter stages. However, their recent resilience and strategic clarity have signaled a potential turning point.
The timing of FIFA’s announcement could not be more favorable for the South African champions. Victory in the CAF Champions League final would only elevate their ambitions in the Club World Cup, and the opportunity to reinforce their squad just days before the global showdown is a tactical luxury not to be squandered.
With clubs from UEFA, CONMEBOL and other confederations also reinforcing their squads, competition at the Club World Cup is set to be fiercer than ever.
Sundowns, likely to be placed in Pot 3 alongside the top teams from Africa, Asia and North America, will need every edge they can muster.
- Pot 1: The four top-ranked teams from both UEFA and CONMEBOL.
- Pot 2: The remaining eight teams from UEFA.
- Pot 3: The two top-ranked teams from each of AFC, CAF and CONCACAF and the remaining two teams from CONMEBOL.
