WHAT HAPPENED?
FIFA has confirmed the venues, dates and kick-off times for the 63 total matches for the 2025 Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams from all over the world. The opening match will be a stand-alone with Inter Miami facing Al Ahly FC on June 14 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
The tournament will then run through July 13, culminating in the finale at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. That venue will also host both semifinal matches.
Matches will be played across 12 venues, six of which are MLS stadiums. Joining New Jersey and Miami as hosts are Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington D.C.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Inter Miami will kickstart the tournament with the opener and will then head to Atlanta to face Porto on June 19. They’ll wrap up the group stage on June 23 against Palmeiras.
MLS’ other representative, the Seattle Sounders, will play all three of their group stage matches in Seattle, hosting Botafogo on June 15, Atletico Madrid on June 20 and Paris Saint-Germain on June 23.
WHAT WAS SAID
“The paths for the 32 teams have been set and we now know at what time and where, among 12 top-class stadiums, we will enjoy the 48 exciting group stage clashes,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “Together with another 15 matches in the knockout stage, this match schedule sets 63 dates in the diary of every football fan – those living in the US, traveling from abroad to these beautiful cities to support their clubs, or following live and for free from every corner of the world via DAZN and FIFA+.
“This match schedule is much more than a list of thrilling fixtures involving the best clubs in the world – it shows that club football can, and will be, truly global. Let’s take it to the world.”
WHAT NEXT?
Clubs all over the world will continue to play in their domestic leagues until next summer’s tournament. Both Inter Miami and the Sounders had their seasons ended in the MLS playoffs, with Miami falling in the first round and Seattle losing to the LA Galaxy in the Western Conference Final.