The world football governing body, FIFA, on Friday, announced that the United States of America will host the maiden edition of the revamped 32-team FIFA Club World Cup scheduled to kick start in 2025, Peoples Gazette can confirm.

FIFA unanimously named the U.S. as host during a videoconference from the federation’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. It said the decision was made after considering infrastructure, service requirements, and broader strategic objectives for the tournament.

“The decision was reached based on the United States’ position as a proven leader in staging global events and because it would allow FIFA to maximise synergies with the delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, to the benefit of both tournaments and the development of football in the North American region,” said FIFA.

The North American country, alongside its neighbours Mexico and Canada, is set to hold the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which would be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams instead of the previous 32-team World Cup – it is slated between June and July 2026.

The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, billed to hold in Saudi Arabia later in December, will be the last edition of the regular seven-team tournament which would afterward be discontinued by FIFA for a broader and more competitive format.

Subsequently, the council announced Colombia as the host of the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, while Dominican Republic will host the U-17 category also in the same year. Also, approval was given to regulations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition, which kicks off in September this year.