FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced a major expansion of the Club World Cup, confirming the 2025 final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The revamped tournament will feature 32 teams, a significant increase from its previous format, and is scheduled to take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025, in the United States.
Infantino described the event as "the greatest show on Earth" during a press conference, emphasizing its scale and global appeal. The new format is designed to create a premier competition for club football, mirroring the prestige of the FIFA World Cup.
The selection of MetLife Stadium, which has a capacity of over 82,000, underscores FIFA's ambition to host the final in a major market. The tournament is part of a broader strategy to grow the sport in North America ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will jointly host.
Qualification for the 2025 Club World Cup is based on performances in continental competitions over a four-year period. The expanded format has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising its potential for growth and others expressing concerns over an already congested football calendar.
