Today, Friday, the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) announced that the first expanded edition of the Club World Cup, which will include 32 teams, will be held in the United States in 2025.
The FIFA Council unanimously approved the United States to host the expanded edition two years later, following a video conference meeting.
The tournament constitutes a test for the United States before hosting the World Cup for the teams the following year in partnership with Mexico and Canada, and America previously hosted the 1994 edition of the World Cup.
FIFA stated that it will announce at a later time the dates, host stadiums and match schedule.
“The 2025 Club World Cup will represent the jewel in the crown of football for the elite of men, and with the required infrastructure and tremendous local interest, the United States will be the ideal place to host the new world championship,” said Swiss Gianni Infantino, FIFA President.
Last December, FIFA approved an increase in the number of clubs participating in the Club World Cup to 32, starting with the 2025 edition, and announced at the beginning of this year how to distribute teams according to continents.
The European Union got the largest number with 12 clubs, 4 for each of the Asian and African Confederations and CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean Islands), 6 for CONMEBOL (the South American Confederation), and a seat for the Oceanian Confederation, in addition to a club from the host country.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the 2023 Club World Cup late this year for the first time under the current system, with the participation of 7 clubs.
In another context, FIFA announced “postponing the official launch of the file submission process” to host the 2030 World Cup until its next meeting in September or October, and postponing the announcement of the host name from “Section Three in 2023 to Division Four in 2024.”
The 2030 World Cup coincides with the centenary of the first edition of the World Finals, and the countries of Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay submitted their joint candidacy to organize it, in addition to a second file that brings together Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
