FIFA will announce the venues and stadiums for next year’s Club World Cup in the United States on Saturday, as confirmed by the football governing body on Friday.
The expanded tournament will feature 32 clubs from around the globe and is scheduled to take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, will reveal the details in Central Park during the Global Citizen Festival, a music event dedicated to combating poverty.
Among the 12 European teams qualified for the tournament are Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich. In South America, Argentina’s River Plate and Boca Juniors, along with Brazil’s Flamengo, are among the six teams that have qualified.
FIFA has not yet announced any broadcast partners for the tournament, which has encountered opposition from the global players’ union, FIFPro.
FIFPro and the European Leagues association have filed a joint complaint with the European Commission against FIFA concerning the tournament’s introduction into the international match calendar.
Critics argue that the new tournament adds to an already congested schedule and increases the workload for players.
The Club World Cup will take place during the same period as the regional CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, which will primarily occur on the West Coast.
While most Club World Cup matches are expected to be held at venues on the East Coast, the Seattle Sounders may host a game at their home stadium.
Additionally, the USA will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.
AFP
