Writer’s Strike End a Boon for Sports Networks, Agencies
FIFA announced that the U.S. will host the 2025 Club World Cup, which will be the tournament’s first to feature an expanded 32-team format.
The U.S. will now host three major soccer tournaments over the next three years, kicking off with the 2024 Copa America and men’s World Cup in 2026, which will also have matches in Canada and Mexico. Mexico and the U.S. also made a joint bid to co-host the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Teams to qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup thus far include Spain’s Real Madrid, the English Premier League’s Manchester City and Chelsea, and MLS’s Seattle Sounders, as well as Palmeiras (Brazil), Flamengo (Brazil), Monterrey (Mexico), Leon (Mexico), Al-Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) and Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia).
Last year’s 19th edition was held with seven teams in Morocco and aired in the U.S. on Fox Sports, which has World Cup broadcasting rights with FIFA through 2026. This year’s Club World Cup will be held December 12-22 in Saudi Arabia and will be the last seven-team edition of the tournament.
Adding onto soccer’s momentum in the U.S. are three confirmed upcoming major tournaments and the arrival of global superstar Lionel Messi, who has signed to play with Inter Miami in MLS.
“We’re very invested in soccer in America — from the national team to MLS to international tournaments,” Fox Sports president of marketing Robert Gottlieb told Front Office Sports. “We are very vested in the growth of soccer in the U.S., and having Messi come to Miami is great for the sport. It’s a rising tide that will lift all boats, so we’re very happy about it.”
