FIFA, Saudi PIF Announce Partnership For Upcoming 2025 Club World Cup in USA
FIFA, the governing body of football, and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Wednesday a partnership for the Club World Cup, which begins in the U.S. on June 14.
This partnership is another significant step for PIF in expanding its global sports portfolio, following its investments in football, golf, and motorsport.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is hosted by the United States and kicks off on June 14, with the tournament opener between Inter Miami and Egyptian club Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.
The tournament culminates with the final on July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The month-long tournament will feature 32 of the world's top clubs for the first time, competing in 11 cities across the U.S.
Eleven cities across the US have been chosen as venues – Atlanta, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
The new deal between FIFA and PIF builds on PIF's existing partnerships in international football, including a collaboration with CONCACAF announced last year.
Historic Prize For FCWC Winner
FIFA also announced that the prize money pool for the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be a substantial $1 billion, with the tournament winner set to receive $125 million.
This figure is significantly higher than the prize money offered for the most recent men's or women's World Cups.
By comparison, the total prize money for the 2022 men's World Cup in Qatar was $440 million, while the 2023 Women's World Cup in New Zealand and Australia had a prize pool of $110 million.
Despite the attractive financial incentives, the tournament's expansion has faced widespread criticism, particularly in Europe, due to concerns over player welfare and fitness.
The global footballers' union FIFPro and the European Leagues association filed a complaint with the European Commission in October against FIFA, accusing it of abusing its dominant position by overcrowding the calendar.
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