FIFA Confirms Pasadena's Rose Bowl And Other Major US Stadiums As Venues For 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

FIFA Confirms Pasadena's Rose Bowl And Other Major US Stadiums As Venues For 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

In a notable move for soccer enthusiasts, FIFA has named the Rose Bowl Stadium as one of the venues for the forthcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, set to adorn the United States with international football flair. This announcement, confirmed by FIFA, places the Rose Bowl alongside other prestigious stadiums such as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where the tournament's final will unfold on July 14, 2025, as reported by KTLA.

The Rose Bowl's selection comes despite its omission from the roster of 2026 FIFA World Cup venues, carving out a space for itself among the 12 chosen arenas that include a mix of NFL stadiums and MLS homes. Locations such as Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, and TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, have also been tapped to host 2025 Club World Cup matches. FIFA President Gianni Infantino underscored the organization's efforts saying, "This new FIFA competition is the only true example in worldwide club football of real solidarity and inclusivity," allowing international clubs to spar with the heavyweights of Europe and South America, as covered by CBS Los Angeles.

Despite the buzz around the event, not everybody is thrilled. FIFPRO, the international players' union expressed concerns last December about timing, suggesting FIFA’s schedule "will undercut the rest and recovery time of these players at the end of the 2024-25 season." They noted a "lack of consideration for the mental and physical health of participating players, as well as a disregard for their personal and family lives," a criticism that surfaced amidst FIFA's venue reveal during a weekend filled with college football and Major League Baseball activities, detailed in a piece by NBC Los Angeles.

The draw for this grand tournament is set for December, with a lineup of teams that reads like football royalty, including champs like Al-Hilal from Asia, and Manchester City from Europe, the defending victors of the latest Club World Cup iteration. "Football is the most popular sport on the planet, and in 2025 a new era for club football will kick off when FIFA stages the greatest, most inclusive and merit-based global club competition right here in the United States," Infantino relayed in excitement, a sentiment echoed by fans and organizational bodies gearing up for the multi-match event. The full match schedule will follow the draw, with more information available on the official FIFA website for those eager to snag a ticket, as mentioned by KTLA.

SOURCE: hoodline