The soccer world is basically about to get flipped on its head. For years, the FIFA Club World Cup was that weird, mid-season tournament in December where the European Champions League winners would fly to Japan or the Middle East, play two games, and fly home with a trophy.
It was fine. But it wasn't exactly massive.
That's over now. FIFA has turned the dial up to eleven, expanding the whole thing to a 32-team beast. It's basically a mini-World Cup for clubs, and it's happening right here. So, where is the Club World Cup being played? The short answer is the United States, but the long answer involves 12 different stadiums, a lot of frequent flyer miles, and a heavy focus on the East Coast.
The Big Picture: Why the USA?
FIFA picked the United States to host this revamped 2025 edition for a pretty obvious reason: it’s a dry run for the 2026 World Cup. They want to test the grass, the security, and how the fans handle the heat before the "real" World Cup hits a year later.
Most of the games are clustered on the East Coast. Why? Honestly, it's about the TV clocks. By playing in New York, Miami, and Charlotte, FIFA ensures that fans in Europe and Africa—where many of the powerhouse clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Al Ahly are based—can actually watch the games at a decent hour instead of 3:00 AM.
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Where is the Club World Cup being played? The Stadium List
If you're planning to catch a game, you're looking at 11 host cities and 12 total stadiums. Orlando is the only lucky (or chaotic) city that gets two separate venues.
The Final Venue: MetLife Stadium (New Jersey/New York)
The grand finale is going down at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. It’s a massive, 82,500-seat bowl that doesn't have much character, but it's close to NYC and it's where the 2026 World Cup final will also be held. If you want to see the trophy lifted on July 13, this is your spot.
The Opening Act: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
The tournament kicks off in South Florida on June 14. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is the "host" team, and they’ll be taking the field at Hard Rock Stadium. It’s a loud, humid, and flashy place—perfect for the tournament opener.
The Rest of the East Coast Swing
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta): This place looks like something out of a sci-fi movie with its retractable "pinwheel" roof. It's a huge hub for soccer in the South.
- Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte): A massive NFL stadium that’s become a surprisingly great soccer venue for Charlotte FC.
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia): "The Linc" is known for its rowdy fans. It'll be interesting to see if that energy translates to global club ball.
- Audi Field (Washington, D.C.): This is the smallest venue on the list. It’s intimate, soccer-specific, and right in the heart of the capital.
The Florida Double: Orlando
Orlando is doing the most. They’ve got:
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- Camping World Stadium: An old-school, historic bowl that’s been around forever but still holds a huge crowd.
- Inter&Co Stadium: The home of Orlando City. It's smaller, but the "Wall" of fans makes it one of the best atmospheres in the country.
Heading West and Mid
- Lumen Field (Seattle): You can't have a major soccer event in the US without Seattle. The Sounders fans are arguably the most passionate in the country, and the stadium's "horseshoe" design offers a killer view of the skyline.
- Rose Bowl (Pasadena): This is the "Granddaddy of Them All." It hosted the 1994 World Cup Final. It's old, it has bench seating, and the traffic is a nightmare—but it’s iconic.
- TQL Stadium (Cincinnati): A gorgeous, modern soccer-specific stadium. It’s basically the gold standard for how to build a stadium for this sport in the 21st century.
- GEODIS Park (Nashville): The newest kid on the block. It’s the largest soccer-specific stadium in the US and Canada.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Format
People keep calling this the "Club World Cup," and while that's the name, the format is totally different from the old one. There is no third-place playoff. There are eight groups of four. It’s a straight knockout after that.
The stakes are higher because these teams qualified based on a four-year cycle of performance. We’re talking about Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich all in the same bracket as South American giants like Palmeiras and Flamengo.
Practical Tips for Fans
If you're actually going to these games, keep a few things in mind. First, the travel is no joke. Flying from Seattle to Miami is basically a six-hour trek across time zones.
Second, the weather. June and July in Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta is basically like living inside a steamer basket. Hydrate. Wear linen. Don't say I didn't warn you.
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Third, the ticket situation is handled through FIFA's official portals. Don't get scammed by random "verified" sellers on social media.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to stay on top of the schedule and where the Club World Cup is being played as the bracket tightens up, here’s what you should do:
- Download the FIFA+ App: This is where the official schedule updates happen in real-time.
- Check the specific stadium bag policies: NFL stadiums like MetLife and Hard Rock have "clear bag" rules that are way stricter than European stadiums.
- Bookmark the official travel guides: Since the venues are spread across the continent, look into the "Meadowlands Rail Line" for New Jersey or "MARTA" for Atlanta to avoid the $100 Uber surges.
The era of the "small" Club World Cup is dead. Whether you like the expansion or not, the world's best are coming to the States, and now you know exactly where to find them.