By Billy McGee
December 7, 2024
Photo: Europa Press / AP
Charlotte is set to host four matches in the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with two group stage matches and two in the Round of 16. The competition will mark a new era for the Club World Cup, which previously had just seven teams competing. Now there will be 32 teams split into eight, competing in the group stages before moving on to the knockout round. 
The first match in Charlotte is scheduled for Sunday, June 22 between Real Madrid and CF Pachuca. Real Madrid is one of the most accomplished clubs in the world, winning 36 La Liga titles (the most of any Spanish club), 15 European championships (the most of any team in Europe), and five Club World Cup titles since 2000. Along with the history of success, Real Madrid also has some of the biggest names in the sport, including Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, along with bright young stars like Arda Güler and Endrick. Pachuca, the Mexican professional football club that plays in the Liga MX (or Liga BBVA MX), is one of the top teams in Mexico, winning seven league titles and six CONCACAF Champions Cups.
The second of the group stage matches will be on Tuesday, June 24 between Benfica and Bayern Munich. Benfica, who are led by Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Angel Di María, have won 38 Liga Portugal titles (the most of any Portuguese team) as well as two European championships.
The winner of 33 Bundesliga titles and six European championships, Bayern Munich is the most decorated club in Germany. They are led by Harry Kane, England’s all-time leading goal scorer; Jamal Musiala, who contributed to 16 goals through 19 matches in all competitions this season; Alphonso Davies, the captain of Canada’s national team; Michael Olise, who has scored seven goals and six assists in 20 appearances since being bought from Crystal Palace for 60 million euros in the summer; and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who has won Best European Goalkeeper a record five times.
Following the group stage matches, Charlotte will host two more in the Round of 16, the first of which will be on Saturday, June 28 between the winner of Group C and the runner up in Group D. The second Round of 16 match will be Monday, June 30, played between the winner of Group E and the runner up in Group F.
Charlotte has been turning into one of the country’s premier soccer cities in recent years and the Club World Cup continues the momentum. Since the arrival of Charlotte FC as an MLS expansion club in 2022, they have been among the league leaders in attendance. The city has also held several soccer matches at both the club and international levels. Bank of America Stadium hosted a friendly between Charlotte FC and Chelsea in 2022, CONCACAF Gold Cup matches in 2023, a friendly between Chelsea and Real Madrid earlier this year, and the semifinal and third-place match for the 2024 Copa América. Charlotte also hosted Bayern Munich for the International Champions Cup against Inter Milan in 2016.
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Outside of Charlotte, the Carolinas have been an international stage for soccer with some of the biggest college football stadiums in the region hosting club friendly matches in recent years. Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill hosted Chelsea and Wrexham in 2023, along with Celtic and Manchester City in 2024, while Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina hosted Liverpool and Manchester United in August.
Professional teams such as North Carolina FC and North Carolina Courage (who both play in Cary), Carolina Core FC (MLS Next Pro) in High Point, Charlotte Independence and Carolina Ascent (who are based in Charlotte), are also collectively helping to grow the game in the Carolinas. 
2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches at Bank of America Stadium
Group Stage:
June 22 at 3:00 p.m.
Real Madrid vs. Pachuca
June 24 at 3:00 p.m.
Benfica vs. Bayern Munich
Round of 16:
June 28 at 4:00 p.m.
Group C Winner vs. Group D 2nd Place
June 30 at 3:00 p.m.
Group E Winner vs. Group F 2nd Place
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