– 32-team tournament to be played in 2025
– Hosting requirements for FIFA World Cup 2030 approved
– FIFA World Cup 2030 bidding process to start in Q3 2023, with appointment of host(s) expected in Q4 2024
– Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition approved
WEBWIRE – Friday, June 23, 2023
The FIFA Council has unanimously appointed the United States as the host of the new and expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup that is due to take place in 2025, at its meeting held by videoconference from the Home of FIFA.
The host selection process took into consideration the infrastructure and service requirements, as well as broader strategic objectives for the tournament.
The decision was reached based on the United States position as a proven leader in staging global events and because it would allow FIFA to maximise synergies with the delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2026, to the benefit of both tournaments and the development of football in the North American region. As a next step, FIFA will engage with the relevant stakeholders to finalise the dates, venues and match schedule of this new tournament.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of elite professional mens club football, and with the required infrastructure in place together with a massive local interest, the United States is the ideal host to kick off this new, global tournament, said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. With some of the worlds top clubs already qualified, fans from every continent will be bringing their passion and energy to the United States in two years time for this significant milestone in our mission to make football truly global.
The slot allocation per confederation and the key principles of access were already confirmed by the FIFA Council earlier this year.
FIFA World Cup 2030 bidding process
To ensure additional consultation with all key stakeholders, in relation to the FIFA World Cup 2030, which will mark the centenary of mens footballs showpiece tournament, the FIFA Council agreed to postpone the formal launch of the bidding process. Therefore, the relevant Bidding Regulations will be presented for approval at the next FIFA Council meeting, due to take place in September/October 2023, with the bidding process to be officially launched thereafter. The expected appointment of the host(s) by the FIFA Congress will also move from Q3 2024 to Q4 2024.
The FIFA Council also approved the Overview of Hosting Requirements for the FIFA World Cup 2030, which was prepared by the FIFA administration to allow all interested member associations to better understand the requirements for hosting the competition, including with regard to the required infrastructure, the legal framework that must be established and the environmental and social objectives that should be pursued.
Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition approved
The FIFA Council also approved the Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition, which kicks off in September 2023.
With 48 teams participating in the next FIFA World Cup, the tournament will have an unprecedented impact on world football, especially as more nations will have the opportunity to secure their place to shine on the global stage, said President Infantino.
Hosts of FIFA Congress and tournaments
Additionally, the FIFA Council confirmed that the 74th FIFA Congress, due to take place on 17 May 2024, will be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Council also appointed Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023, Colombia as the host of the FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup 2024, the Dominican Republic as the host of the FIFA U-17 Womens World Cup 2024 and Uzbekistan as the host of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024. The time frame for the respective competitions will be confirmed in due course.
The dates of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2023, which is due to take place in the United Arab Emirates, were moved from 16-26 November 2023 to 1525 February 2024.