September 29, (THEWILL) – FIFA has confirmed the 12 stadiums that will host the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in the United States next summer. The tournament venues were announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Global Citizen Festival in New York.
The stadiums are spread across the country, with MetLife Stadium in New Jersey set to host the final. Other major venues include Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, and Lumen Field in Seattle. The tournament will feature top clubs from around the world, including recent UEFA Champions League winners like Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
However, the expanded Club World Cup has faced criticism from players and unions over welfare concerns. With matches scheduled for June and July 2025, there are worries about inadequate rest periods for players between seasons. FIFA has stated teams will have at least three days between fixtures.
The tournament will overlap with the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, though organisers are working on scheduling to minimise conflicts. FIFA is yet to announce training bases, sponsors or broadcast partners for the Club World Cup.
This new format replaces the previous annual seven-team Club World Cup. FIFA has also approved an annual Intercontinental Cup starting in December 2024, featuring champions from different confederations competing in a knockout format.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
