A New Era for the FIFA Club World Cup
For the first time, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will feature 32 teams, transforming the event into a true global showcase. The United States gets the honor of hosting this expanded edition, stretching from June 14 to mid-July. The action will be spread out across some of the country’s most iconic sports venues, packed with electric crowds and a wild mix of football cultures. It’s not just champions of Europe and South America this time; we’re seeing clubs from all continents sharing the spotlight.
The group stage offers fans a delicious buffet of top-tier matchups right from the start. One of the most anticipated openers sees Paris Saint-Germain facing Atlético Madrid at the legendary Rose Bowl in Pasadena on June 15. Just hours later, Brazilian heavyweights Palmeiras go toe-to-toe with Portugal’s FC Porto at New Jersey’s massive MetLife Stadium.
All eyes shift to Atlanta the next day, where Chelsea FC meets Club León, the pride of Mexico, in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium welcomes Boca Juniors and Benfica, while Philadelphia readies for a late-night showdown between Flamengo and Esperance de Tunis. Whether you follow European giants or love South America’s iconic clubs, there’s a fixture that hits home.
Venues, Format, and How to Watch
The tournament makes use of the US’s roster of top-level stadiums. Classic names like MetLife (New Jersey), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), Rose Bowl (Pasadena), and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) will buzz with noise and color. Seattle’s Lumen Field and Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field add yet more choices for local fans hungry for world-class soccer on their doorstep.
For couch fans and those watching abroad, all games are available on ESPN and through FIFA’s streaming services. Real-time scores, match stats, and detailed schedules are easy to find on both FIFA’s official tournament portal and ESPN’s sports pages. No need to worry if you can’t head to the stadium—coverage is everywhere.
The format is switching gears too. Instead of a straight knockout, the World Cup adopts a round-robin group stage leading into the high-drama knockout rounds. This means more games—more chances for an underdog run or a big name to trip up early. Already there’s buzz around clubs like Al Ahly FC from Egypt and Inter Miami CF, who get their shot at European titans like FC Bayern München and PSG.
- June 15: PSG vs. Atlético Madrid at Rose Bowl, 3:00 PM
- June 15: Palmeiras vs. FC Porto at MetLife Stadium, 6:00 PM
- June 16: Chelsea FC vs. Club León at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 3:00 PM
- June 16: Boca Juniors vs. Benfica at Hard Rock Stadium, 6:00 PM
- June 16: Flamengo vs. Esperance de Tunis at Lincoln Financial Field, 9:00 PM
As teams land in the US and fans plan their summer travels, this tournament promises to blend global football flavors with American stadium spectacle. Group stage drama, knockout chaos, and that unmistakable World Cup rush—they’re all on the menu. Let the countdown begin.
