FIFA has revealed the 12 stadiums that will host the 2025 Club World Cup starting from June 15 next year.
The final is scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The selected venues include the Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina), TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tennessee), Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Lumen Field (Seattle), and Audi Field (Washington, D.C.).
During the Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park, FIFA President Gianni Infantino shared his excitement about the event.
He said: “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.
“The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will feature 12 fantastic stadiums where a new chapter in football’s global history will be written by great players from the 32 best clubs in the world.”
The official draw is scheduled for December, with two remaining qualifiers – one from South America and another from the US – yet to be decided.
FIFA announce the 12 stadiums that will be hosting the 2025 Club World Cup 🏟️
The final will be at MetLife on July 13. pic.twitter.com/nVxP9lIgeo
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 28, 2024
The tournament will mainly take place on the East Coast to avoid overlapping with the 2025 Gold Cup, which will be held on the West Coast from June 14 to July 6.
However, Seattle’s Lumen Field was added to the venue list due to the Seattle Sounders’ qualification for the Club World Cup, according to ESPN.
FIFA has faced criticism from organisations such as FIFPRO and England’s Professional Footballers’ Association, with concerns over increased game congestion and player workload.
The Premier League has also raised questions about the timing of the tournament, which falls during a period typically reserved for international fixtures.
Despite these concerns, Infantino has pressed forward with plans for the 2025 competition, which will feature an expanded format of 32 teams, a shift from the previous seven-club structure used in 2023.
He added: “This new FIFA competition is the only true example in worldwide club football of real solidarity and inclusivity, allowing the best clubs from Africa, Asia, Central and North America, and Oceania to play the powerhouses of Europe and South America in an incredible new World Cup which will impact enormously the growth of club football and talent globally.
“This 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. My thanks go to all.”
