The Club World Cup Is Coming to the USA – And It Could Change Everything

As a football fan living in the U.S., it still feels surreal to say this out loud: the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is coming here. Not a friendly. Not a preseason tour. The actual Club World Cup—featuring some of the biggest, baddest, trophy-laden clubs in world football—is landing on American soil.

And I’m not just hyped. I’m cautiously hyped. Because this is more than a tournament—it’s a cultural stress test for football in the U.S.

Football in America: Still Growing, Still Misunderstood

Let’s be honest: in the States, football (yes, football, not “soccer”) is still fighting for cultural legitimacy. The passion exists—just walk into a bar during a UCL knockout match or a Mexico vs USA showdown and tell me otherwise—but it’s often drowned out by NFL overkill and NBA fandom.

Now, enter the 2025 Club World Cup. This isn’t just a tournament; it’s the first of its kind, expanded to 32 teams and stacked with global icons: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Palmeiras, Chelsea, Bayern, and possibly even Al Ahly or Urawa Reds.

This is a test run for 2026, make no mistake. FIFA is watching. Broadcasters are watching. Fans from Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia will be watching. And if it pops off? If the stadiums are packed, the atmospheres are electric, and the games are compelling—then the U.S. will finally stake its claim as a footballing host that actually gets it.

The Atmosphere Question: Will We Show Up?

Here’s the part that makes me nervous.

One of the beautiful things about football around the world is the vibe—the flares in South America, the songs in England, the tifos in Italy, the chaos in Turkey. In the U.S., let’s be real, that vibe is still... under construction.

Will the average American sports fan drop $300+ for a group-stage match between Flamengo and Al Hilal? Probably not. And that’s the risk. If FIFA and ticketing partners treat this like the Super Bowl and go full premium pricing, we might end up with half-empty stadiums and corporate crowds, not the fever-pitch cauldrons we get in Europe and South America.

Atmosphere matters. It shapes the narrative. It brings soul to the spectacle.

We’ve seen what U.S. fans can do—the 2022 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, El Tri vs USA in Las Vegas, and even some Charlotte FC and LAFC games—but it needs to be priced and promoted for the true fans, not just luxury suite holders.

A Glimpse of What 2026 Could Look Like

Let’s talk legacy.

The 2025 Club World Cup isn’t just a tournament—it’s a dress rehearsal for the 2026 Men’s World Cup, which will be the largest World Cup ever, spread across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

If we nail this? If logistics go smooth, if local fans turn out, if the world feels welcome here—then 2026 could become something historic. Like Germany 2006 or France ’98 levels of iconic.

But if ticketing’s a mess, stadiums look like ghost towns, and the vibe feels sterile and corporate, we’ll hear about it. Loudly. The global football audience doesn’t forgive easily.

Ticket Prices vs. Passion: A Delicate Balance

One thing we need to get right: ticket pricing.

You can’t price out the people who bring the energy. MLS supporters, local ultras, international fans living in diaspora communities across the States—they’re the heartbeat of this thing. A ticket should feel like an invitation, not a gated pass to an elite-only event.

Let’s not forget the lessons from Qatar 2022. Yes, it was a shiny spectacle. But fans spoke loudly about accessibility, cost, and authenticity. Those same questions will follow this Club World Cup too.

So if FIFA wants stadiums full of real fans, they’ve got to think beyond revenue. Subsidize certain matches. Partner with supporters' groups. Create real fan zones with affordable options. Let the working-class football lovers in. Because atmosphere doesn’t come from a credit card—it comes from people who live for this game.

What I’m Excited For (and You Should Be Too)

Let me end on a high note. Because there’s a lot to be hyped about:

• Real Madrid playing a knockout match in New Jersey? Count me in.

• Flamengo ultras bringing that Rio heat to Miami? Inject it into my veins.

• Japanese, Egyptian, and Mexican fans all in the same stadium for a night match in Houston? That’s culture in motion.

This is a unique football melting pot. And for the U.S., it’s a chance to prove we belong—not just as hosts, but as passionate, football-savvy fans who can bring the noise.

Final Word: It’s Ours to Earn

Football in the U.S. has been growing. Slowly. Awkwardly. But the 2025 Club World Cup could be the moment where everything clicks. Where the world sees us not as tourists to the beautiful game—but as part of the global football family.

We’ve got the infrastructure. We’ve got the players. We’ve even got the stories.

Now we just need the passion, the access, and the people to show up. Loud.