Expanded Tournament Set to Feature 32 Teams in Venues Across the U.S.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the final of the 2025 expanded Club World Cup.
The announcement was made on Saturday, revealing that the first edition of the 32-team tournament will kick off on June 15 and conclude with the final on July 13. The stadium, home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, was also selected as a venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A total of 12 venues across the U.S. will be used for the tournament, with only two located on the West Coast: the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, near Los Angeles, and Lumen Field in Seattle. Other host cities include Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
The Club World Cup will feature champion clubs from each of FIFA’s continental confederations. Major teams such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Flamengo have already qualified through their respective leagues.
“This new FIFA competition is the only true example in worldwide club football of real solidarity and inclusivity,” Infantino said, emphasizing the global impact of the tournament. The 32-team format is designed to foster competition between clubs from regions like Africa, Asia, and Oceania against European and South American giants.
The draw for the tournament will be held in December, with 30 of the 32 spots already determined. The event will coincide with the regional CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will mostly be hosted on the West Coast.
FIFA’s partnership with Global Citizen, announced during the Global Citizen Festival in New York, will see the organization support anti-poverty initiatives. As part of the agreement, Global Citizen will produce the halftime show for the 2026 World Cup final.
While the expanded tournament is viewed as a critical test ahead of the 2026 World Cup, it has faced criticism. The international players’ union FIFpro and the European Leagues body have filed complaints against FIFA, citing increased player workload and fixture congestion.
The last Club World Cup, which featured seven teams in a knockout format, was won by Manchester City in Saudi Arabia. FIFA plans to hold the expanded tournament every four years, though a host nation for the 2029 edition has not yet been announced.
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