Featured Stories – 2025 Club World Cup
FIFA President Gianni Infantino Visits Orlando Ahead Of 2025 Club World Cup
By George Diaz
Orlando got its first party invite to prestigious international soccer in 1994 when FIFA staged five games here during its signature men’s World Cup event. The celebration continues decades later.
Flanked by community leaders, FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived in Orlando on Wednesday as part of a media tour to all host cities for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Orlando will host six games in the inaugural tournament this summer and is the only market with two venues – Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium.
“It’s a credit to our community that continues to have an appetite for bringing major marquee events to this market,” said Jason Siegel, President and CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports).
The difference between the World Cup and Club World Cup is significant. The World Cup involves competition among countries. The Club World Cup involves competition among the best teams in the world. They will include Real Madrid, Manchester City, Juventus, Bayren Munich among the field of 32 teams scheduled to compete in 63 total matches, The Seattle Sounders will represent MLS after winning the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.
“Which team is actually the best team in the world,” Infantino said, reflecting the point and purpose of the tournament. And why Orlando? “It’s a beautiful city. It’s a city that is known all over the world and has stadiums that fit exactly what we need.”
The tournament begins on June 14th and continues through July 13th. The winner could earn up to $125 million in prize money, from a $1 billion pool.
Orlando will host six games at its two venues, starting June 17th with a match between Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns. Three days later, FC. St. Benfica faces Auckland City FC. Both of those matches are at Inter&Co Stadium.
Camping World Stadium will host CR Flamengo on June 24th, followed by Juventus and Manchester City on June 26th. Camping World Stadium will also host a round of 16 matchup on June 30th, and a quarterfinal matchup on July 4th.
Siegel, among others, acknowledged Joanie Schirm (1994 FIFA World Cup Event Director and first President of the Orlando Sports Commission) Wednesday morning, as she sat among the dignitaries. None of this was likely possible without her spirit and drive back in the early ‘90s. But now you can say the same thing about the leadership team at GO Sports, Orlando City Soccer/Orlando Pride, Florida Citrus Sports, and political leaders who have embraced futbol along with America's beloved football.
“It’s an honor to be part of the debut of Club World Cup,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said. “We have that long history that Joanie spearheaded and started and now we are the capital of the Southeast United States when it comes to soccer.”
To that point, Siegel and others have their sights on other prizes, including the 2031 Women’s World Cup that will be staged in the United States.
“We doubled down by hosting the 1996 Olympic Games here as part of the Atlanta Games,” Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan said, reflecting on the historic trajectory that began in 1994. “But our investments in establishing this destination with global football brands like Real Madrid and Juventus and Manchester City and Arsenal in recent years, and all the South American clubs, I think has set the stage for this success.”
“A lot of that has teed us up for success in the future and I hope that success includes an exclamation point with a FIFA Women’s World Cup. These investments, these successes, these wins, these sold-out stadiums I think puts in people’s minds that this destination needs to be at the very top of the list.”
Siegel most definitely concurs, citing not only a future World Cup but Rugby World Cup.
“There will be many opportunities in the future,” he said. “Much like the Club World Cup, we’re having conversations right now with event organizers that will require multiple venues as well. For instance, WrestleMania. Two nights in Camping World Stadium, and three nights at the Kia Center. There will be many opportunities for us to activate two venues at once, which will pay dividends in the future.”
