Nashville Hosts Expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Matches at Geodis Park

Nashville's Geodis Park is currently hosting matches for the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, marking a significant milestone in the city's emergence as a hub for international sports events.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, running from June 14 to July 13, features 32 top club teams from around the globe, a substantial increase from the previous seven-team format. Geodis Park, a 30,109-seat soccer-specific stadium that opened on May 1, 2022, is among the 12 venues selected across 11 U.S. cities for this event. This development underscores Nashville's growing prominence in the international sports arena and is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the city.

Geodis Park is hosting three group stage matches between June 20 and June 26:

• June 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT: Club León (Mexico) vs. Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) – Group D
• June 24, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT: Auckland City FC (New Zealand) vs. CA Boca Juniors (Argentina) – Group C
• June 26, 2025, at 8 p.m. CT: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) vs. CF Pachuca (Mexico) – Group H

Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre emphasized the significance of this event, stating, "GEODIS Park welcoming the FIFA Club World Cup is a huge step forward and a true recognition of how far Nashville has come in the world of soccer."

The 2025 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup represents a major overhaul, expanding to a 32-team format that mirrors the traditional FIFA World Cup structure. This expansion includes 12 teams from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 each from Africa, Asia, and CONCACAF, 1 from Oceania, and 1 from the host nation, the United States. The tournament features eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stages.

Hosting matches of this magnitude is expected to have a significant economic impact on Nashville. FIFA estimates that the tournament could contribute $9.6 billion to the U.S. economy. For Nashville, this event provides an opportunity to showcase its capacity to host major international sporting events, potentially positioning the city for future high-profile events, especially with the upcoming opening of the new Nissan Stadium in 2027.

The tournament has seen varying levels of attendance across different venues. While some matches have drawn large crowds, others have experienced lower turnout. For instance, matches in cities like Orlando and Cincinnati have seen attendance fall below 6,000, raising concerns about filling large NFL stadiums. In contrast, South American fans, particularly those of Boca Juniors, have created vibrant atmospheres, transforming venues like Miami's Hard Rock Stadium into fervent soccer arenas.

The tournament's scheduling has raised concerns regarding player and fan welfare due to high temperatures and humidity in certain host cities. Matches in cities like Pasadena, Miami, and Los Angeles have seen midday temperatures reaching or exceeding 32°C (89.6°F), creating hazardous conditions. The world players' union FIFPRO has urged FIFA to consider schedule changes, additional cooling breaks, or match postponements during peak heat.

This expanded format is the first of its kind for the FIFA Club World Cup, aiming to increase global engagement and provide a more comprehensive competition among top club teams worldwide. The United States' role as host serves as a precursor to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico. This tournament offers a platform to build excitement for soccer ahead of the 2026 World Cup and to assess the country's readiness to host large-scale international soccer events.

As Nashville continues to host these high-profile matches, the city's growing stature in the global sports community is evident. The successful execution of these events may pave the way for future opportunities to host major international tournaments, further solidifying Nashville's place on the world stage.