By Victor Kanayo
Ahead of the 2025 Club World Cup scheduled between June 15 and July 13, FIFA has unveiled 12 stadiums set to host the expanded Club World Cup in the United States.
The competition according to the organisers will have 32 clubs participating.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, who disclosed this said, “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.
“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.”
Matches will be played across the US, with the final to take place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, five miles from New York City.
The other venues are: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Geodis Park, Nashville Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Camping World Stadium, Orlando Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Lumen Field, Seattle and Audi Field, Washington DC
Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid have all automatically qualified from Europe as the most recent winners of the Champions League in the last four-year cycle.
Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto and Benfica will also feature, thanks to their co-efficient rankings.
Six South American clubs and 12 teams from Asia, Africa and North America will make up the rest of the tournament, while a spot is given to one club from Oceania and another for the US as the host nation.
Previously, the Club World Cup had been an annual mid-season tournament which included six teams from seven worldwide confederations.
