FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Kicks Off in the U.S. with Star-Studded Matches at the Rose Bowl
The world’s top football clubs have arrived in the United States as the highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup 2025 officially begins, with the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena hosting several key matches.
Fans across America are celebrating as elite clubs from around the globe—ranging from Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain to underdog teams like Auckland City FC (New Zealand), ES Tunis (Tunisia), and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)—compete in this year’s expanded Club World Cup tournament. The event features the best domestic clubs from each FIFA federation, with a staggering $1 billion prize pool and $125 million going to the champion.
Record Crowds and Dominant Performances in Opening Matches
The tournament opened on Saturday at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, where Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, played to a scoreless draw against Egyptian powerhouse Al-Ahly.
On Sunday, Bayern Munich made headlines with a historic 10-0 win over semi-professional side Auckland City, setting a new Club World Cup scoring record.
Later that day, more than 80,000 fans packed into the Rose Bowl to witness an all-European clash as Paris Saint-Germain demolished Atlético Madrid 4-0. PSG, the reigning UEFA Champions League winners, showcased their dominance in what was one of the tournament’s most anticipated group-stage matches.
Full Rose Bowl Match Schedule – Club World Cup 2025
Fans in Southern California can catch several more matches at the Rose Bowl as the group stage continues:
June 17, 6 p.m. – CF Monterrey (Mexico) vs. Inter Milan (Italy)
June 19, 6 p.m. – Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs. Botafogo (Brazil)
June 21, 6 p.m. – River Plate (Argentina) vs. CF Monterrey
June 23, 6 p.m. – Atlético Madrid (Spain) vs. Botafogo
June 25, 6 p.m. – Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) vs. CF Monterrey
Other clubs making appearances at the Rose Bowl include River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, and LAFC, the hometown heroes who were the final team to qualify for the tournament.
A Preview of Bigger Tournaments Ahead
The 2025 Club World Cup is seen as a crucial test event for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well as for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Despite ongoing political tension and protests related to federal immigration raids in Southern California, the tournament continues to draw international attention and record-setting crowds.
