FIFA announces twelve venues for the 2025 Club World Cup

FIFA has announced the venues for the 2025 Club World Cup, with the majority of the tournament to be played on the East Coast of the United States starting next June.

The Revamped Competition under Scrutiny 

The Club World Cup's uncertainty has been under scrutiny, with questions surrounding FIFA's revamped marquee competition. Thirty-two teams will compete in the event. They will be split into eight groups, with the top two from each group advancing to a knockout stage.

The venue unveiling is happening at a critical stage in the tournament planning. With just nine months left before the scheduled kickoff, FIFA still hasn't secured a TV rights deal or sponsorships. Both clubs and players have voiced concerns about the tournament's potential impact on welfare at the end of a busy European season.

The Venues of Club World Cup 

The venues were revealed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Global Music Festival in New York on Saturday. They are:- 

• The Rose Bowl, Los Angeles

• Lumen Field, Seattle

• Camping World Stadium, Orlando

• Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando

• Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

• GEODIS Park, Nashville

• Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

• TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

• Audi Field, Washington

• MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

• Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

• Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Television rights are yet to be finalized 

FIFA has faced difficulties in finalizing a TV rights package. Negotiations with Apple were initiated, but the tech giant's offer of $1 billion fell far short of FIFA's reported asking price.

Infantino's announcement has the potential to address several lingering questions about the tournament. The public availability of stadiums could create opportunities for sponsors to negotiate and for a TV rights deal to be finalized. Overall, this marks the beginning of the countdown to the first match in June.