United States To Host Expanded 32-Team Club World Cup In 2025
Notably, the US is also set to cost-host the FIFA World Cup 2026 along with Mexico and Canada.
Football's world governing body FIFA has confirmed that the United States will host the Club World Cup in 2025. This will be the first time that the tournament will witness 32 teams compete against each other for ultimate glory. La Liga's Real Madrid and Premier League's Manchester City and Chelsea are already guaranteed of a place in the Club World Cup by virtue of being Champions League winners in recent years. The FIFA competition's aim is also to test stadiums and operations a year before the actual World Cup in 2026.
Notably, the US is all set to cost-host the FIFA World Cup 2026 along with Mexico and Canada. While the Club World Cup 2025 has currently been awarded to US, FIFA could even grant some matches to Mexico and Canada as well. During a virtual meeting of FIFA Council, it has further been decided that June-July window would be the time the Club World Cup will be hosted in 2025.
FIFA was also in praise of the United States' legacy as a leader in hosting events of world status. Apart from the European Clubs, the Seattle Sounders FC, who are the 2022 Champions of North America, are also in contention for a place in the Club World Cup 2025. In addition, their could be another place up for grabs for the Americans. Even as European sides have played friendlies in the United States before this will be the first chance for the country to witness a dozen European teams compete against one another.
It is pertinent to note that the qualification requirement for Club World Cup is to win a continental championship in the four years from 2021 to 2024 in the Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. Europe and South America are the only continents that have more than four entries with extra places expected to be awarded as per team rankings by results of the four-year time period in continental tournaments.
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