Gio Reyna has lost track of the number of times he went to MetLife Stadium growing up.
The 22-year-old United States men’s national team star, currently playing for German giants Borussia Dortmund of the famed Bundesliga, grew up in Westchester County after moving from Sunderland, England, and joined NYCFC’s academy in 2015.
He has played on practically every big stage in world soccer, yet he has never played in his hometown’s largest soccer venue, which is better known as the home of the NFL’s Giants and Jets.
That changes this summer, as his Dortmund side will face off against Brazilian powerhouses Fluminense at MetLife Stadium on June 17 during the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
“It’s one of those stadiums that I’ve watched so much growing up that it’s sort of maybe going to be a little bit strange to actually be on the pitch there,” Reyna admitted. “But I’m very excited… You know, for me and, of course, all my family and friends in the area. I’m going to have to get a lot of tickets for them. But it should be fun and I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Club World Cup is just the first major soccer event that is being hosted by the United States, as this summer will be an appetizer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup next year.
The New York/New Jersey area will play a headlining role in both major tournaments, as MetLife Stadium — apart from hosting both group and knockout stage matches — will host the Final of each competition.
It will be the second time that the US will host the World Cup. East Rutherford also hosted games at the old Giants Stadium during the 1994 tournament.
But this will be the first time that America will host the Club World Cup, which pits the best club teams from around the world against each other in a far more competitive environment than the usual friendly circuit that the country is normally used for during the summer.
“It’s huge just to see these games live, and be around the game in the country is going to be something that the US hasn’t really seen,” Reyna, who also could be representing the US national team next summer on home soil, said. “The exposure of the sport in the next few years is really going to grow and grow and grow, and when you have teams like Dortmund and Bayern Munich and Real Madrid and Manchester City that have… all the best players in the world that are participating in these games, it sort of makes you want to check in and follow.”
Reyna recorded two goals and an assist in 24 matches across all competitions with a Dortmund side which finished fifth in the Bundesliga and advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. This comes just one year after losing the Champions League Final to Real Madrid.
The German side, nicknamed the Black and Yellow, likes its chances to go deep into the tournament even with the overwhelming collection of prolific teams, ranging from Real and Atletico Madrid of Spain to Manchester City and Chelsea of England, long-time German rivals Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan and Juventus of Italy.
“I think our goals going into this tournament is, for sure, trying to win it,” Reyna said. “We went to the Champions League final last year, and we’ve made good runs in the Champions League in the past, and, for me, the Champions League is the most difficult competition in the world. If we see ourselves doing well there consistently, surely we can put on a good performance at this tournament, the Club World Cup, and make a deep run.
“Of course, it’s difficult to win these kinds of tournaments with the quality in them, but, yeah, for us, a deep run is, for sure, what we want to make, and then, once you get into the final games, anything can happen and we would like to win, of course.”
At least for Reyna, a silver lining will be coming home to play at this summer’s pinnacle competition while curing the inklings of homesickness that come with the job.
[I obviously miss] my family and friends, which is pretty clear — not being able to see them that much, and they visit as much as they can, but it’s not the same,” Reyna said. “FaceTime helps a lot with that, but probably, besides them, [I miss] the food. It’s hard to describe. A little bit of everything; it’s my home, you know? There’s no place like home, as they say.”
