2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Venues, Teams, and Final Set for MetLife Stadium

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will take place across 12 U.S. stadiums, with the final scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as announced by FIFA in New York on Saturday

This competition will bring together 32 top club teams from around the world, including powerhouses like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, and Al Hilal. It’s seen as a prelude to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In addition to the stadiums being confirmed, 30 out of the 32 participating teams have already secured their spots. One of the two remaining teams will be from the U.S., while the other will come from South America.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup:

Dates for the Tournament

The event will kick off on June 15, with the final match set for July 13, which will be held at the same venue as the 2026 World Cup final.

Where Will the Matches Take Place?

The matches will be played in the following stadiums:

• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta). Home of the Atlanta Falcons (NFL).
• TQL Stadium (Cincinnati). Home of FC Cincinnati (MLS).
• Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte). Home of the Carolina Panthers (NFL)
• MetLife Stadium (New Jersey.). Home of the New York Giants and New York Jets (NFL).
• Hard Rock Stadium (Miami). Home of the Miami Dolphins (NFL) and Miami GP (F1).
• Geodis Park (Nashville). Home of Nashville SC (MLS).
• Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando). Home of Orlando City SC (MLS).
• Camping World Stadium (Orlando). Home of the Orlando Guardians (XFL).
• Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia). Home of the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL).
• Rose Bowl (Pasadena). Home of the UCLA Bruins (College A Football).
• Lumen Field (Seattle). Home of the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and Seattle Sounders (MLS).
• Audi Field (Washington, D.C.) Home of D.C. United (MLS), Washington Spirit (NWSL).

Which U.S. Home Team Will Participate?

One of the two unconfirmed teams will be a U.S. representative, with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami being a strong contender. Messi will still be under contract during the tournament and would be a huge draw for fans, alongside stars like Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham. While Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup, they may need to secure more titles, such as the MLS Supporters’ Shield or the 2024 MLS Cup, to qualify.

Another contender for the U.S. spot is the Columbus Crew, the reigning MLS Cup and 2024 Leagues Cup champions. Although they have been dominant in the MLS, their recent loss to Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions Cup final prevented them from securing a Club World Cup berth.

Teams Qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Here are the 30 teams that have already qualified:

UEFA (Europe):

• Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
• Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
• Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
• Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
• Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway
• Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
• Porto (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
• Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
• Borussia Dortmund (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
• Juventus (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
• Atletico Madrid (ESP) – UEFA ranking pathway
• FC Salzburg (AUT) – UEFA ranking pathway

AFC (Asia):

• Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League
• Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League
• Al Ain (UAE) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League
• Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR) – AFC ranking pathway

CAF (Africa):

• Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23, and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
• Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
• ES Tunis (TUN) – CAF ranking pathway
• Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) – CAF ranking pathway

CONCACAF (North America, Central America, and the Caribbean):

• Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
• Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
• Club Leon (MEX) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup
• Pachuca (MEX) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
• TBD – 2025 Club World Cup host slot (United States)

CONMEBOL (South America):

• Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
• Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
• Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
• River Plate (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
• Boca Juniors (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
• TBD – 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores

OFC (Oceania):

• Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway

Two more teams, one from the U.S. and one from South America, will round out the 32-club tournament field.

I think I’m on the side of football fans who see this as an unnecessary extra tournament. Although it’s a new iteration, it has been around and I don’t know anybody who has cared much for it in the past.

I see the thinking behind it from FIFA’s standpoint, they don’t make enough money from the World Cup being every four years, unlike UEFA for example who generate a lot of revenue from the annual Champions League, Europa League and European Championships, so I get why they’re pushing for it to be accepted.

On a positive note, hosting the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. is a smart move, capitalizing on the growing momentum of soccer stateside. The Beckham era, first as a player and now as an owner, brought significant attention to the sport, and Messi’s presence has only amplified that interest for many Americans. With the Club World Cup in 2025 and the World Cup in 2026 on the horizon, it’s clear that FIFA, along with its U.S. partners, are committed to keeping this momentum going and expanding a more sustainable fanbase for the future.

This effort builds on the foundation laid by the 1994 World Cup, which helped launch Major League Soccer and sparked the sport’s growth in the U.S., making it a key part of the sports landscape today. One of the conditions FIFA set for awarding the 1994 World Cup to the United States was that the country would establish a top-tier professional soccer league, and since then the league has seen significant growth.

Thanks for reading, David Skilling

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