FIFA will be donating $1 million to New York/New Jersey to help grow the game as the area prepares to host the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup, the soccer governing body’s president, Gianni Infantino, announced on Thursday.
The New York City area is just one of 11 American host cities for the upcoming tournaments that will receive the $1 million contribution.
“We care about our social role, which is why we are in the process of establishing the FIFA Foundation USA,” Infantino said. “…This means ideally installing mini pitches and organizing soccer activities with children on these pitches in areas where they are most needed in each city, something that will ensure that the impact of this groundbreaking global tournament will be felt for years to come.”
MetLife Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Giants and Jets, will host group-stage matches and the Final for both the Club World Cup and the World Cup. This will put the Big Apple at the epicenter of the soccer world for each of the next two summers and bring in major revenue in the process.
Last week, OpenEconomics’ socioeconomic analysis of the 2025 Club World Cup—which begins in just two months—revealed that the tournament could generate up to $21.1 billion in global Gross Domestic Product, including $9.6 billion in the United States. The competition could also generate $17.1 billion in gross output, $3.36 billion in social benefits, and approximately 105,000 jobs across the country.
