CINCINNATI (WCMH) — An Ohio city will host some of the best soccer teams in the world next summer for a first of its kind tournament.
FIFA announced that TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, the home of MLS club FC Cincinnati, will be one of 12 stadiums across the United States to host games for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. A schedule has yet to be announced nor how many games TQL Stadium would host.
The host venues are a mix of MLS, NFL, and college football stadiums. Next summer’s tournament begins on June 15 and it’s the first time the tournament will have 32 teams from all over the globe.
All but two host cities are on the east coast and Midwest due to the international CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament happening simultaneously. While California will host matches for both tournaments, no cities or stadiums were picked to host games for both tournaments.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup venues
- Cincinnati, Ohio (TQL Stadium)
- Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)
- East Rutherford, NJ (MetLife Stadium – Hosting final on July 13)
- Charlotte, NC (Bank of America Stadium)
- Atlanta, GA (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
- Philadelphia, PA (Lincoln Financial Field)
- Seattle, WA (Lumen Field)
- Miami, FL (Hard Rock Stadium)
- Orlando, FL (Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium)
- Nashville, TN (Geodis Park)
- Washington D.C. (Audi Field)
Before the recent expansion, the FIFA Club World Cup was a much smaller tournament featuring just seven teams that usually took place in December. The 2025 Club World Cup is serving as a prelude to the 48-team FIFA World Cup in 2026 that will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
30 clubs have clinched places for the Club World Cup with 12 European teams making up the field. One more MLS team will join the Seattle Sounders in the tournament with the Columbus Crew among the candidates. The league has yet to announce how that MLS spot will be determined. The Black & Gold missed out on a chance for automatic qualification after losing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in June 3-0 to Pachuca.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup teams
United States (1): To be determined
Europe (12): Chelsea (England), Real Madrid (Spain), Manchester City (England), Bayern Munich (Germany), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Internazionale (Italy), Porto (Portugal), Benfica (Portugal), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Juventus (Italy), Atletico Madrid (Spain), Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
CONCACAF (4): Monterrey (Mexico), Seattle Sounders (USA), Club Leon (Mexico), Pachuca (Mexico)
Asia (4): Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al Ain (United Arab Emirates), Ulsan HD (South Korea)
Africa (4): Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad AC (Morocco), Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
CONMEBOL (6): Palmeiras (Brazil), Flamengo (Brazil), Fluminense (Brazil), River Plate (Argentina), Boca Juniors (Argentina), To be determined (Nov. 30)
Oceania (1): Auckland City (New Zealand)