FIFA council appoints United States as host of new and expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
FIFA has announced the United States of America as the host of the new and expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup that is due to take place in 2025, at its meeting held by video conference from the Home of FIFA.
The inaugural FIFA Club World Cup, the expanded new version, is scheduled to hold June – July 2025 with the 32 teams, the best clubs from all over the world participating.
FIFA official website, fifa.com, reported that the host selection process took into consideration the infrastructure and service requirements, as well as broader strategic objectives for the tournament.
The decision was reached based on the United States’ position as a proven leader in staging global events and because it would allow FIFA to maximise synergies with the delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, to the benefit of both tournaments and the development of football in the North American region.
As a next step, FIFA will engage with the relevant stakeholders to finalise the dates, venues and match schedule of this new tournament.
In a statement released on Friday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his excitement for the upcoming event, describing it as the “pinnacle of elite professional men’s club football.”
“The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of elite professional men’s club football, and with the required infrastructure in place together with a massive local interest, the United States is the ideal host to kick off this new, global tournament,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“With some of the world’s top clubs already qualified, fans from every continent will be bringing their passion and energy to the United States in two years’ time for this significant milestone in our mission to make football truly global.”
The slot allocation per confederation and the key principles of access were already confirmed by the FIFA Council earlier this year.
With the United States possessing the necessary infrastructure and generating massive local interest, it has been chosen as the ideal host for this global spectacle.
Infantino also emphasised the significance of the tournament in FIFA’s mission to expand the reach of football worldwide, as fans from every corner of the globe will bring their passion and energy to the United States in two years.
Currently, the Club World Cup consists of eight teams, including the champions from each continent and the national champion of the host country, Soccernet.ng reports.
However, FIFA has decided to revamp the tournament, aiming to make it akin to a World Cup.
Several prominent clubs have already secured their spots in the competition.
Europe has been allocated 12 spots, with four of them reserved for Champions League winners leading up to 2025.
Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City have earned places by triumphing in the Champions League in recent seasons.
Africa, on the other hand, has been granted four slots, two of which have been secured by Al Ahly and Wydad AC, the winners of the CAF Champions League.
Another team that could potentially make it to the tournament is Enyimba International FC, Nigeria’s most successful club.
Enyimba’s victory in the just concluded Nigerian Professional Football League earlier June clinched their qualification spot for the CAF Champions League. They will join Al Ahly and Wydad AC as Africa’s representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup.
It is striking to note that Enyimba are the only Nigerian club to have won the Champions League, accomplishing the feat in consecutive years, 2003 and 2004.
Under the watch of former Super Eagles’ winger, George Finidi, Champions Enyimba, driven to claim a third continental title, have the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s biggest clubs at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.
The tournament will take place every four years.
The exact dates, venues, and schedule for the event have yet to be confirmed by FIFA.
