The 21st edition of the FIFA Club World Cup is about to begin — and this time, the United States will host the tournament for the first time in its history. Along with a new host comes a complete overhaul of the competition’s format. Here's your full guide to the 2025 Club World Cup.

Nearly a month of football action

The tournament officially starts on June 14, though due to the time difference, the opening match will be played in the early hours of June 15 for European viewers. Hosts Inter Miami will take on Egypt’s Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium. The final is scheduled for July 13 and will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Broadcast rights belong exclusively to DAZN, with all matches streamed live and available for free.

How were the stadiums selected?

In January 2024, FIFA announced that the 2025 edition would be hosted mostly on the U.S. East Coast — a move aimed at better aligning with European broadcasters and avoiding overlap with the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, to be held largely in the West. On September 28, 2024, FIFA confirmed 12 stadiums across 11 U.S. cities as official venues. Unlike other FIFA events, including the upcoming 2026 World Cup, all stadiums will retain their commercial naming rights during the Club World Cup. You can see all the stadiums hosting this year's FIFA Club World Cup on the map below. Detailed information about each venue can be found later in the article.

A historic first under the new expanded format

FIFA announced the expanded format back in March 2019, originally planning the first edition for China in 2021. That was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making the U.S. edition in 2025 the true debut of the new structure. The revamped Club World Cup will feature 32 teams: 12 from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 each from Asia, Africa, and CONCACAF, plus 1 team from Oceania and 1 from the host country. Teams are divided into 8 groups of 4. Each team will play 3 group-stage matches, and the top two from each group will progress to the knockout stage, beginning with a round of 16. The format has drawn criticism from player unions (FIFPRO) and leagues (World Leagues Forum), citing increased fixture congestion and concerns about player welfare.

Real Madrid remains the most decorated club in tournament history, having won the title five times. Corinthians’ 2000 victory is still the best result by a team from the host nation. Spanish clubs lead the all-time list with 8 titles, while England boasts the highest number of different winning clubs (4). Reigning champions Manchester City claimed the trophy in 2023 with a dominant 4–0 win over Fluminense. No tournament was held in 2024 due to the format transition.

How did ticket prices shape up?

At first, ticket prices for the tournament were significantly higher than those for events like the World Cup or the UEFA Euro. A seat at the final could cost as much as $2,200, mainly due to the use of dynamic pricing. However, on February 10, 2025, FIFA announced a price drop in response to low demand. The cheapest tickets for the semifinals and the final were reduced to around $140 and $300, respectively. Despite the markdown, FIFA charged a 10% cancellation fee for fans who wanted to exchange their tickets.

Just days before the start of the tournament, FIFA is still facing problems with low interest. At Hard Rock Stadium, which holds 65,000 people and will host the opening match, only a little over 20,000 tickets have been sold so far. The initial price for the match featuring Inter Miami was over $400, but now tickets can be purchased for under $100. According to The Athletic, the cheapest tickets for the entire group stage are for the Group E match between Argentine side River Plate and Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds — fans can get into the stadium for just $24. The same source reports that FIFA has partnered with Miami Dade College, a university with 100,000 students. Each student who buys a ticket will receive four additional ones, and the price per ticket is literally just a few dollars.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak | Hard Rock Stadium (Dolphins Stadium)

Where will the matches take place?

Twelve stadiums will host a total of 63 matches during the FIFA Club World Cup. The venue with the most action will be MetLife Stadium, which will stage as many as nine games – including five group-stage matches, one quarter-final, both semi-finals, and the final. That alone makes it worth taking a closer look at this New Jersey giant.

MetLife Stadium, opened in April 2010 on the site of the former Giants Stadium, is a modern, multi-purpose venue with a capacity of 82,500, including more than 10,000 premium seats in luxury suites. Designed by 360 Architecture, EwingCole, and Rockwell Group, the stadium cost around $1.6 billion to build – making it the most expensive venue in the U.S. at the time.

© Anthony Quintano (CC BY 2.0) | MetLife Stadium (New Meadowlands Stadium)

The stadium is home to both NFL teams – the New York Giants and New York Jets – and is one of only two stadiums in the world shared by two professional football franchises. In addition to NFL games, it has hosted major events, including Super Bowl XLVIII (2014), concerts by global stars, and now, the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

One of its signature features is a changeable exterior that shifts color – blue for the Giants, green for the Jets – as well as enhanced spectator comfort, thanks to wider seats, generous spacing, and large video screens offering excellent views from every angle.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup stadiums