'He’s certainly invited' - Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann hopes to see Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James at the FIFA Club World Cup

Antoine Griezmann has reached out to NBA superstar LeBron James with an invitation to attend Atlético Madrid's FIFA Club World Cup matches in the United States this summer. The French international, a well-known basketball enthusiast, expressed hope that James might attend one of Atlético's three group stage matches at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

“Well, maybe,” Griezmann said in an interview with Sports Illustrated about the Club World Cup. “We’re playing two games in Los Angeles, at the Rose Bowl. He might come; he’s certainly invited, and we’d like to welcome him to one of our training sessions. Why not?”

Griezmann spoke about his love for American sports but asserted that he’ll in Los Angeles to play in the CWC and his focus is solely on that, and helping Atletico Madrid do their best.

“Yes, I’ve been to Los Angeles once or twice. As you know, I’m a big fan of the NBA and the NFL, I’m new to baseball. So, for me, it’s going to be cool to be able to play there," he said. "That said, I’m not going there as a tourist, I really want to play, to win, and to do well. It’s about enjoying the occasion, and hopefully we can have a great tournament. And yes, to be honest, playing there is going to be nice.”

The 2018 World Cup winner further talked about the Club World Cup and admitted that he’s honored by the fact that Atletico Madrid was picked to play in the first iteration of the tournament.

“What excites me most about this FIFA Club World Cup is that it’ll be the first. So it’s an honor for me and the club to be a part of it. Ultimately, we’re looking forward to going to the United States and playing our first match, which will be against PSG,” he added.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup represents a major expansion of the tournament, with 32 clubs from around the world competing across the United States. Atlético Madrid's schedule presents a unique challenge, facing teams from three different confederations: Paris Saint-Germain (UEFA) on June 15 at the Rose Bowl, Seattle Sounders (CONCACAF) at Lumen Field on June 19, and Botafogo (CONMEBOL) back at the Rose Bowl on June 23.

Atlético Madrid will continue their preparations for the Club World Cup while completing their domestic season. The Los Rojiblancos face Girona away from home in their final game of the regular season on May 24.