Here’s the first thing fans of the FIFA 2025 World Cup want to know: Four clubs will be training in New Jersey.
Here’s who and where:
- AL Ahly: At the Pingry School in Basking Ridge;
- CR Flamengo: At Stockton University;
- FC Porto: At Rutgers;
- FC Salzburg: At Melanie Lane in Whippany.
Here’s the next question: Will training be open to fans?
That answer isn’t as precise.
The decision to open some or all practices to the public will be left up to the teams, but all are expected — and are being encouraged — to do so.
Which teams at which sites on which dates still hasn’t been determined — but an announcement is expected within the week.
The 32-club event, being held for the first time, will run from June 14-July 13.
MetLife Stadium will host the final, both semifinals and one quarterfinal, as well as five opening-round games.
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will host eight games, including a quarterfinal (on the Fourth of July) and a round-of-16 match.
The large number of matches in East Rutherford and Philadelphia means the area will host a match on nearly every match day of the 30-day event. The tournament opens on June 14 in Miami, when Inter Miami (featuring Lionel Messi) will meet Al Ahly of Saudi Arabia.
The schedule at MetLife:
- June 15 (Sunday): SE Palmeiras vs FC Porto
- June 17 (Tuesday): Fluminense FC vs Borussia Dortmund
- June 19 (Thursday): SE Palmeiras vs Al Ahly FC
- June 21 (Saturday): Fluminense FC vs Ulsan HD
- June 23 (Monday): FC Porto vs AL Ahly FC
- July 5 (Saturday): Quarterfinal
- July 8 (Tuesday): Semifinal
- July 9 (Wednesday): Semifinal
- July 13 (Sunday): Final
While MetLife will get the biggest games, it will not necessarily host the most noteworthy clubs in the group stage. Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will. Its lineup of games includes matches featuring Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus and Real Madrid.
The schedule at Lincoln Financial Field:
- June 16 (Monday): Flamengo vs. Espérance
- June 18 (Wednesday): Manchester City vs. Wydad
- June 20 (Friday): Flamengo vs. Chelsea
- June 22 (Sunday): Juventus vs. Wydad
- June 24 (Tuesday): Espérance vs. Chelsea
- June 26 (Thursday): RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid
- June 28 (Saturday): Round of 16 (A winner vs. B runner-up)
- July 4 (Friday): Quarterfinal
The Club World Cup is FIFA’s first effort at a global tournament featuring club teams rather than national teams. Think of the Yankees or Dodgers playing teams from baseball leagues in Japan, Korea and Mexico.
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