Rose Bowl to Host Matches for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, has been selected as one of the venues for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA plans to announce the full list of venues in the coming weeks, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Additional locations being considered for this prestigious event include Lumen Field in Seattle, Inter Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. However, these locations have not yet received official confirmation.

The Guardian first reported on the venues slated for the Club World Cup, stating that MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will also be among the venues along with a site in the Philadelphia area. This tournament represents a significant expansion from FIFA as it aims to boost revenue from club soccer, a priority voiced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Originally, FIFA intended to launch a 24-team expanded version of the Club World Cup in 2021, set to occur in China. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of those plans. Now, FIFA has confirmed that a new 32-team format will debut in the U.S. in 2025, taking place over four weeks from June 15 to July 13.

Despite the excitement surrounding the tournament, FIFA faces opposition from various stakeholders within the soccer community. Players, coaches, and unions—including FIFPRO and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in England—have expressed concerns regarding the increased workload that comes with expanding the tournament calendar.

In particular, the Premier League has raised alarms about the Club World Cup being scheduled during a summer window that typically features international soccer tournaments. Compounding this issue is the scheduling of the Concacaf Gold Cup, which is set to take place in a similar timeframe, from June 14 to July 6.

To address potential conflicts, sources indicate that FIFA plans to host the Club World Cup primarily on the East Coast, while the Gold Cup will be held in venues predominantly on the West Coast. Nevertheless, the participation of the Seattle Sounders in the tournament has complicated this arrangement, leading to the consideration of Lumen Field as one of the venues.

Though FIFA unveiled the logo and audio signature for the Club World Cup on September 4, many details regarding the competition are still being finalized. In mid-July, FIFA announced a bidding process for broadcasting rights, following reports that discussions with Apple had stalled. Apple’s proposal of $1 billion was significantly below FIFA’s $4 billion asking price.

Recently, FIFA held a call with potential broadcasters to expedite the negotiation process, but progress appears to be minimal at this stage. Stakeholders remain attentive as the organization works through the complexities of launching this significant global tournament.

The excitement for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup continues to build as soccer fans look forward to a showcase of the world’s best clubs. The upcoming announcement of venues will undoubtedly add to the anticipation surrounding the event.