Excitement Builds for Upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S.

New York, NY — Soccer in the United States is at a pivotal moment as excitement builds for several major tournaments. Last year, the U.S. hosted Copa America, and in 2026, it will welcome the FIFA World Cup, with the final set for MetLife Stadium. Landon Donovan, a prominent figure in American soccer, expressed optimism about the sport’s growing popularity during a media brunch on Thursday.

Donovan attended the event alongside the FIFA Club World Cup trophy to promote the upcoming tournament and DAZN’s coverage, which will stream every match for free. The Club World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 14 in Miami, taking place at 12 venues across the U.S.

“I can feel it anecdotally, and then I can feel it just in the attention around [the sport],” Donovan said. The expanded Club World Cup aims to showcase the best teams from around the world, including MLS teams Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders. Donovan noted that the upcoming World Cup will significantly impact the U.S. Men’s National Team‘s journey.

The U.S. Men’s National Team has only reached the quarterfinals once since 1990, during the 2002 World Cup. Despite the team’s inconsistent past, Donovan is hopeful that their performance next summer could create lasting excitement for soccer in America.

“We could spend 10 years growing the sport organically … but one iconic moment next summer takes it exponentially higher,” Donovan stated. He emphasized the importance of playing with “pride” to succeed in 2026.

While the focus remains on the World Cup, Donovan is also looking forward to the Club World Cup this summer. Matches, including the championship, will be hosted at MetLife Stadium. He believes the tournament will captivate fans, much like March Madness does in college basketball.

“I’ve just learned with fandom that there’s no one reason someone becomes a fan,” he said. He added that exposure to new teams can spark interest. Notable teams in the Club World Cup include Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia.