The United States will have a trial run before co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA has revealed that the Club World Cup will take place in the U.S. in 2025, marking the debut of the expanded 32-team format, a significant departure from the current seven-team setup.

"The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of elite professional men's club football, and with the required infrastructure in place together with a massive local interest, the United States is the ideal host to kick off this new, global tournament," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Friday.

The purpose of the Club World Cup is quite straightforward. It brings together the champions from different continents to determine the ultimate club team in the world.

The Club World Cup has faced challenges in generating significant excitement due to its position in the calendar and its relatively short duration. Taking place in the middle of the season and lasting just over a week, the tournament has often been perceived more as an exhibition than a highly competitive event.

However, this perception may change as the Club World Cup aligns more closely with its international counterpart. Starting in 2025, the tournament will transition from an annual to a quadrennial event, featuring a group stage followed by a knockout phase.

UEFA will have the highest representation with 12 clubs, twice as many as the next closest federation (CONMEBOL). Additionally, four clubs each will be selected from North/Central America, Asia, and Africa. The highest-ranked winner of the OFC Champions League during the specified timeframe will also receive an invitation.

Although FIFA has yet to confirm the host cities for 2025, it is expected that the majority, if not all, of the venues chosen for the 2026 World Cup will also be utilized for the Club World Cup.