Charlotte will host four matches this summer in FIFA's new Club World Cup tournament, with $1 billion and a trophy at stake.
It was an exciting day for soccer fans in Charlotte, across the state and around the world Tuesday morning as FIFA’s president visited the Queen City.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Tepper Sports Entertainment owner David Tepper were on hand to show off what players will compete for: the new FIFA Club World Cup trophy and $1 billion — the first tournament of its kind.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles also joined the announcement, highlighting how much of a soccer city Charlotte is.
“Charlotte knows a little bit about big soccer matches and big events. When Charlotte FC played its inaugural match four years ago, there was an attendance record of over 74,000 fans filling the stadium,” Lyles said.
Starting June 15, the tournament will run for 29 days, showcasing top-tier global club football. Though, Infantino added, it’s not to be confused with the World Cup, which is where countries compete for a title.
Real Madrid, a favorite for the cup, will be among the clubs playing in the Queen City.
“We want to show to the world what Charlotte is,” Infantino said Tuesday. “A club like Real Madrid has a billion fans all over the world. Suddenly, they will realize… there is a city called Charlotte in America which has a fantastic stadium, which has great people and great soccer fans.”
Bank of America Stadium will be one of 12 stadiums in the United States that will host matches, including Atlanta, Seattle and Orlando.
“Call it football or call it soccer, the passion for our beautiful game in the United States is evident, and I was delighted to interact with some fans in Charlotte, a real soccer city,” Infantino said Monday night while visiting Uptown.
And playing host city for the FIFA Club World Cup doesn’t stop here, Infantino said.
“We’re delighted that they have joined us on our journey to redefine global club football in addition to working side-by-side with us for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” he added. Charlotte is also a top candidate for 2031 Womens World Cup.
Lyles noted the joint $650 million investment from the City of Charlotte to modernize Bank of America Stadium have helped make opportunities like this possible.
“We believe that people can come together and create opportunities for everyone in this community. We’re going to be an economic engine in this stadium,“ she said. “Our upgrades continue to allow attraction for many activities.”
Click here for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 ticket information.