FIFA Announces 12 Stadiums for Historic 2025 Club World Cup in the USA

FIFA has officially announced the 12 stadiums that will host the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, marking a significant milestone in the history of global club football. The tournament, which will feature 32 of the world's top clubs, is set to kick off on June 15, 2025, and will conclude with the final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on July 13, 2025.

The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York. Infantino emphasized that the tournament will be a landmark event, stating, 'Football is the most popular sport on the planet, and in 2025 a new era for club football will kick off when FIFA stages the greatest, most inclusive and merit-based global club competition right here in the United States.'

Host Stadiums

The 12 selected stadiums include some of the most prestigious venues in the United States. These are: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte), TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), GEODIS Park (Nashville), Camping World Stadium (Orlando), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando), , , Audi Field (Washington, D.C.), and MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey).

The tournament will see the 32 best clubs from around the world, representing all six FIFA confederations, compete in a new and expanded format. This includes European giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as prominent South American teams such as Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Palmeiras.

Tournament Format

The competition will begin with a Group Stage, where the 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four teams each, playing in a single-match round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16, followed by a direct single-match Knockout Stage leading up to the final.

The draw for the tournament is scheduled to take place in December, with only two qualifiers yet to be confirmed: one from South America and the other representing the host country, the United States.

Logistical Considerations

The tournament will primarily be held on the East Coast of the United States to avoid conflicts with the 2025 Gold Cup, which will be centered on the West Coast from June 14 to July 6. The inclusion of Lumen Field in Seattle as a host venue was necessitated by the Seattle Sounders' qualification to the Club World Cup, which complicated the logistical arrangements.

Despite some opposition from European football entities, including FIFPRO and the Premier League, who raised concerns about schedule congestion and the increase in games, FIFA has proceeded with the expanded tournament format. Infantino highlighted the tournament's significance, stating it is about 'opportunity and hope for those who need it most, and also about prestige and true football for those who make our sport shine.'