This weekend, the FIFA Club World Cup kicks off, pitting continental champions against each other for a month-long celebration of the sport across the United States. From June 14 to July 13, iconic stadiums across the country will play host to iconic teams like Real Madrid, River Plate, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain, so let’s take a look at what you can expect from the tournament both on the field and off.

While the majority of participants will be in the country as visitors, Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders will play all, or most, of their group games at home. The Sounders’ Lumen Field will continue to be their home in Seattle, while Inter Miami will adopt Hard Rock Stadium as its de facto base throughout the group stage. LAFC will play its three group stage games on the East Coast after qualifying for the tournament at the end of May and inheriting Club León’s spot.

Individually, fans will get to see the likes of Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, and Vinícius Júnior competing on American soil. The draw, which concluded in early December 2024, set up several marquee matchups in the group stage. PSG will play against Atlético Madrid at the Rose Bowl on June 15, Bayern Munich will face off against Boca Juniors in Miami on June 20, and on June 26, Manchester City will take on Juventus from Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

After the group stages, the final 16 teams will advance to the knockout round, with the remaining fixtures played out in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami, before the semi-finals and final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 

The tournament format has also drawn interest from analysts and fans alike. With 32 teams competing for the first time in Club World Cup history, the expanded competition adds a layer of unpredictability. Smaller clubs like Auckland City and Al Ahly will be hoping to channel the spirit of underdogs past, aiming to cause upsets and make deep runs into the tournament. 

While the giants of Europe and South America are favored to dominate, the growing competitiveness of teams from Africa, Asia, and North America could shift the balance of power and lead to some surprises along the way.

For many American cities, this will be a test run ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, offering valuable experience in handling world-class soccer events. With fans traveling from all corners of the globe, local hotels, restaurants, and businesses are bracing for a surge in activity. The fusion of international fan bases will likely create a vibrant and diverse atmosphere around the games, with cities organizing fan festivals, live screenings, and cultural showcases to capitalize on the global spotlight.

Broadcast coverage will be extensive, with global networks securing rights to bring the action to millions of viewers. In the U.S., matches will be broadcast on DAZN, ensuring accessibility for fans on the go. This new-look tournament is set to be one of the most-watched editions in years and could set the precedent for the competition’s future. Tune in for the opening match on Saturday, June 14, as Inter Miami hosts Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium.