FIFA Club World Cup City Guide: Washington, DC
Photo by J. David Ake/Getty Images
We give you the ins and outs of watching Club World Cup games in the nation’s capital.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 teams competing across the United States in a tournament that’s the first of its kind. With some of the best teams from every confederation competing in a new format for the revamped Club World Cup trophy.
DC’s Audi Field, with a capacity of 20,000 seats, will serve as a venue for the Club World Cup, hosting three matches. DC is also close to Club World Cup matches in Philadelphia (2.5 hours by car), New York/New Jersey (4 hours), and even Charlotte (6 hours).
With tens of thousands of fans coming to the United States for all the matches to support their teams, this guide will serve as a helpful resource for those attending the games at Audi Field. What should you see in DC? What should you do? What should you eat? We’re going to tell you about it all!
First, here are the three Club World Cup matches that will be at Audi Field:
DC FIFA Club World Cup Matches
Al Ain-Juventus (Group G) – June 18th, 9:00pm
Red Bull Salzburg-Al Hilal (Group H) – June 22nd, 6:00pm
Wydad AC-Al Ain (Group G) – June 26th, 3:00pm
Sports fans visiting a new place for sports are usually interested in checking out other sports! Here are some of the other sporting events that will be taking place in the DC area:
Other Sporting Events
Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings – 6/22, 3pm, CareFirst Arena
Washington Mystics vs. Minnesota Lynx – 6/24, 8pm, CareFirst Arena
– 6/16, 6/17, 6/18, 6/19, Nationals Park*
Loudoun United vs. Louisville City – 6/25, 6pm, Segra Field
You’re in DC, you have to try…
A half smoke. A half pork, half beef hot dog topped with chili, cheese, and onions, It’s one of DC’s staple food items. You should also find some pupusas, a Salvadorean staple that has become one of DC’s most popular foods. Luckily, Factoria Maria Pupuseria has a few locations inside of Audi Field, so you can enjoy this delightful food while you watch the match.
What are some tips for gameday at Audi Field?
There are several ways to arrive at Audi Field on the day of a match. It is strongly urged to utilize public transit to arrive at Audi Field, as parking options immediately around the stadium are limited and expensive. However, attendees that have a military ID can access Fort McNair a block away for free parking. is a good resource for reserving parking if you need to drive to the stadium. Most parking options are in the Navy Yard neighborhood, just a few blocks away but also limited on days when the Nationals are playing. There are no tailgating options around the stadium.
The best way to arrive, if able, is via the Metro system. The Waterfront and Navy Yard stations are about a 15 minute walk to Audi Field, and most people attending matches use that option. The Navy Yard Metro Station is a block from Nationals Park, with several bars and restaurants open for pregame food and drink. Rideshare is also an option, with Uber and Lyft being the most popular options. There’s even a water taxi that will bring you to within a few blocks of Audi Field from Old Town Alexandria or National Harbor.
Audi Field does have a bag policy, but be mindful of any rules that FIFA implements for the Club World Cup may be different when it comes to the admittance of bags into the stadiums. There are also special ADA areas and accessible parking and entrance points for those that require them. Audi Field has an entire A-Z section of its website to answer all frequently asked questions. Give yourself ample time to arrive at the parking lot as well as getting into the stadium, as the entry process could be slower than normal due to FIFA security regulations.
I’m in DC for a few days. What should I do while I’m there?
You are in the nation’s capital, so start on the National Mall. It’s 2 miles from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol, and you will be able to check out not just the Washington Monument or breathtaking memorials like the World War II Memorial or the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, you also will be able to see many of the Smithsonian museums which are free to all (some require advance tickets for timed entry). The National African American Museum of History & Culture is arguably the greatest museum in the country and one of the world’s best. Take a walk down Embassy Row to see some of the embassies representing countries from around the world. The city is full of circles and squares, each of them named after a historical figure and all of them telling a unique story. Finally, if you’re in need of refreshments, you don’t have to walk far: DC’s happy hour scene is America’s best, and every neighborhood has a local watering hole that will give you a chance to kick back and relax before dinner.
I don’t have a ticket, but I want to check out the game. Any suggestions?
It feels like there are more soccer bars than people in this city, as DC almost always is the city that watches more soccer than any city in America. Astro Beer Hall at Metro Center, Solace Outpost in Navy Yard (the closest bar to Audi Field if you want to hear the crowd while watching the game), Ireland’s Four Courts in Arlington, and Franklin Hall on 14th Street are just a few places that fans can check out. Also, just about every major European team has a fan club here that watches their games together, so seek out those groups if you’re a fan of a particular team and want to watch with local supporters.
Where’s a good place to get a bite to eat?
People may not know this, but DC is a foodie city. There are so many terrific places encompassing so many different types of food. Ben’s Chili Bowl (original location on U Street NW) is somewhere everyone new to DC must go for the original half smoke and a ton of history. For a truly authentic DC experience, grab some food from Eddie’s Carryout, where they really have it all. International fans of Nando’s will be happy to know that DC was the first city in the United States to receive the South African-based peri-peri chicken place and has multiple locations around the area. There are a ton of Michelin-rated and Bib Gourmand restaurants in town, with many being more affordable than you would think. Heading out to Annandale in Virginia will give you some very authentic Korean and Vietnamese restaurants. Finally, world famous chef Jose Andrés has several restaurants in and around the city, including the popular Jaleo. You really can’t go wrong with food in the nation’s capital.
There it is, your guide to Washington, DC. If you’re headed to our nation’s capital for the matches, the city has tons for you to enjoy. Enjoy it all…welcome to The District.
