The venues for the expanded 2025 Club World Cup in the U.S. have been announced, with the New York Jets and Giants’ Metlife Stadium hosting the final.
The Club World Cup will be expanded to 32 teams in 2025, and all 12 venues, including the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from New York City have been confirmed, with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City heading across The Pond.
Several World Cup cities are hosting games. Los Angeles, Seattle, and Miami will all host Club World Cup fixtures like they will do a year later in the 2026 World Cup.
The U.S. will rely on sporting venues from the NFL and MLS to facilitate the club competition tournament. Six NFL stadiums will be used, as well as four from Major League Soccer.
The Rose Bowl, the site of the 1994 World Cup final, will also be in use, as well as another 1994 World Cup venue, the Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The majority of the teams competing have also already been announced.
Clubs from all continents across the world will come together in the U.S. next year to compete in the Club World Cup. From Europe; Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Real Madrid, and Red Bull Salzburg have been confirmed.
In South, North, Central America, and Carribean; Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Fluminense, Palameiras, River Plate, León, Monterrey, Pachuca, and Seattle Sounders. Africa will have representatives such as Al Ahly, Espérance, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Waydad. Asia has Al-Hilal, Al Ain, Ulsan, Urawa, and Oceania will see Auckland City compete.
Real Madrid will be one of 32 teams competing in the U.S. next year (
Getty)
However, concerns have been raised over players’ health, amid an increase in fixtures in a calendar year. An expanded Club World Cup will put more of a strain on player fitness. FIFPRO, the international players´ union, criticized FIFA for undercutting “the rest and recovery time of these players at the end of the 2024-25 season.”
Man City midfielder Rodri also stated players were considering a strike due to the increase in fixtures. “I think we are close to that,” said Rodri. “If it keeps this way, it will be a moment that we have no other option, but let’s see.”
Rodri then got injured in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal earlier this month and he’s expected to be out for the entirety of the 2024/25 season. Rodri suffered ACL and meniscus damage to his knee and had surgery, City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed.
