2025 Club World Cup

[IthacaMatt]

In 12 days, we will kick off the first "new era" Club World Cup. To be honest, the old format was an afterthought for most European clubs, but an opportunity for South American club teams to gain some respect.

This new format is like a mini World Cup, with group stages of 3 games each, and then knock out rounds.
Now, the only problem is that teams have played so many games already.

Will they put forward good squads, young academy players, guys to put in the shop window? FIFA is trying to encourage teams to put forward good competitive squads by offering a lot of prize money. But players are tired, and haven't had time off in forever.

Why watch?

If you like MLS, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Miami are in the tournament. So are the Seattle Sounders.
Legendary South American clubs are plentiful - Fluminense, Boca Juniors, River Plate and Flamengo.

From Europe: Chelsea, Man City, Inter, Dortmund, Bayern, Porto and Juventus.
Plus a bunch of teams from around the world.

Should be a really fun tournament.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

In 12 days, we will kick off the first "new era" Club World Cup. To be honest, the old format was an afterthought for most European clubs, but an opportunity for South American club teams to gain some respect.

This new format is like a mini World Cup, with group stages of 3 games each, and then knock out rounds.
Now, the only problem is that teams have played so many games already.

Will they put forward good squads, young academy players, guys to put in the shop window? FIFA is trying to encourage teams to put forward good competitive squads by offering a lot of prize money. But players are tired, and haven't had time off in forever.

Why watch?

If you like MLS, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Miami are in the tournament. So are the Seattle Sounders.
Legendary South American clubs are plentiful - Fluminense, Boca Juniors, River Plate and Flamengo.

From Europe: Chelsea, Man City, Inter, Dortmund, Bayern, Porto and Juventus.
Plus a bunch of teams from around the world.

Should be a really fun tournament.

Interested to see how seriously teams take it.

It is a lot of money BUT, players are exhausted and get no time off anymore because there is a tourney every summer.

 

[cusefan88]

I like the idea but I'm very disappointed at more money grubbing from FIFA and Infantino.

Like a certain offer holder who shall be nameless, he has brow beaten his opponents and institutionalized corruption via Gulf sports washing.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Interested to see how seriously teams take it.

It is a lot of money BUT, players are exhausted and get no time off anymore because there is a tourney every summer.

I think people will treat this like overseas tours in pre-season. Recognize that your starters are exhausted, but some quality guys are maybe coming off injury, academy players get a chance to impress. Professionals generally don't like to lose games, but I can see a lot of teams doing like Chelsea has done this past season, with very extensive substitutions from game to game, and probably within games as well. I hope they lift any limit on subs; i.e. all of them who make the bench are eligible to play.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Here's a very solid backgrounder from ESPN:

FIFA Club World Cup: Format, draw, teams, schedule ... Messi

We're going to take you on a guided tour of the new FIFA Club World Cup, detailing who has qualified and when the competition is being played.

www.espn.com

Messi and Miami get a fun group (A) that gives them a chance to advance to the knock out rounds, playing Palmeiras (Brazil), Al Ahly of Saudi Arabia and FC Porto.

Chelsea hopefully get through their group (D), which includes Flamengo, another legendary Brazilian club, LAFC from MLS and a team from Tunis, in North Africa.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Seattle is in big trouble in their group, Group B, looking likely to finish last. Atletico Madrid, PSG and Botafogo, the team that won Brazil's "Champions League" in 2024.

Group C has Bayern, who should top the group, while Benfica and Boca Juniors battle for 2nd place and the knock out rounds.

Inter will be the favorite in Group E, although they looked old and gassed in the Champions League final. I can't see them taking this too seriously. Monterry from Liga MX and River Plate should be playing for 2nd, but might win the group.

Man City and Juve share Group G, while Real Madrid are heavy favorites in Group H, where Pachuca (MX), Red Bull Salzberg and one of the Saudi clubs make up the rest. Another interesting group where the Mexican team might make the knock out rounds.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Ticket prices drop. Thousands of unsold tickets. I hope this isn't a harbinger of the World Cup next year. I wonder if it's just customer fatigue, they were obviously greedy with the original pricing. I wonder if our border policies are inhibiting tourism from abroad.

FIFA slashes ticket prices for Club World Cup opener, tens of thousands unsold for Inter Miami game

Sources have told The Athletic that FIFA has been concerned that the opening match has not been selling as well as expected.

www.nytimes.com

 

[cusefan88]

Ticket prices drop. Thousands of unsold tickets. I hope this isn't a harbinger of the World Cup next year. I wonder if it's just customer fatigue, they were obviously greedy with the original pricing. I wonder if our border policies are inhibiting tourism from abroad.

FIFA slashes ticket prices for Club World Cup opener, tens of thousands unsold for Inter Miami game

Sources have told The Athletic that FIFA has been concerned that the opening match has not been selling as well as expected.

www.nytimes.com

Soccer fans here are saavy now I think. They will pay a lot to see their favorite club, but they're not overpaying for crappy filler anymore.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Latest preview article from The Athletic. Those with a NY Times subscription will be able to read this. I pay $7/month for The Athletic. It's one of the few print pubs that I feel is worth the money.

Club World Cup: Everything you need to know about the revamped tournament

With the first Club World Cup match on June 15, it's time to get up to speed with the key talking points around the tournament

www.nytimes.com

A couple pull quotes:

The Club World Cup is a 32-team tournament organised by FIFA. All six of FIFA’s confederations are represented. Brazil is the country with the most participating teams (four: Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Palmeiras), with the U.S. the only other nation providing more than two sides (three: Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders).

Teams have been drawn into eight groups of four, with each side playing their group opponents once. The top two of each group will progress to the round of 16, and from there it will be single-match knockouts to the final. Groups A, D, E, and only have one European team, so teams from another continent will progress to the round of 16 from these groups.

Who are the favourites?​

Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to add to their treble of the Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France this season. The way PSG demolished Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final makes them the form European team.

What’s the prize money?​

There is a $1billion pot to be shared.

European clubs will take most of this. There is $525m on offer for participation alone, with Europe’s 12 competing clubs taking home $306m (58 per cent).

They will get between $12.8m and $38.2m in a “ranking based on sporting and commercial criteria” for participation, with the six South American clubs getting a flat fee of $15.2m. Auckland City, the only Oceania club, will receive $3.58m, with the rest, from North and Central America, Africa and Asia, receiving $9.55m for qualifying.

The remaining $475m will be shared based on performance. Having a perfect tournament on the way to the title will amount to $87.62m.

Part of this sporting performance pot, the final will become the most lucrative game in football, with $40m going to the winners and $30m to the losers. This $70m prize exceeds the $47m (€43.5m) on offer in the UEFA Champions League final.

= = = = = = = = = =

THIS IS A BOATLOAD OF MONEY, ESPECIALLY IN THESE DAYS OF FINANCIAL FAIR PLAY, JUST LIKE ADDING MONEY TO THE NIL POT OF ANY SCHOOL. THIS ENABLES TEAMS TO BUY MORE AND BETTER PLAYERS.

 

[IthacaMatt]

One more from The Athletic: 10 Players Who Could Steal the Show at the World Cup, not the Club World Cup. My bad.

Ten players who could steal the show at the 2026 World Cup

From Jude Bellingham - who else? - to Nico Paz, The Athletic analyses 10 players that could star in a year's time

www.nytimes.com

 

[IthacaMatt]

Here's a very solid backgrounder from ESPN:

FIFA Club World Cup: Format, draw, teams, schedule ... Messi

We're going to take you on a guided tour of the new FIFA Club World Cup, detailing who has qualified and when the competition is being played.

www.espn.com

Messi and Miami get a fun group (A) that gives them a chance to advance to the knock out rounds, playing Palmeiras (Brazil), Al Ahly of Saudi Arabia and FC Porto.

Chelsea hopefully get through their group (D), which includes Flamengo, another legendary Brazilian club, LAFC from MLS and a team from Tunis, in North Africa.

Aside from Miami, this is the best chance for another US team to make the knock out rounds.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Miami lucky to be hanging in there against the Egyptian champs so far. GK saved a penalty, 2 breakaways, and a couple point blank shots on set pieces. Messi started turning it up before half time, but they have to win this game if they want to make the knock outs.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Miami lucky to be hanging in there against the Egyptian champs so far. GK saved a penalty, 2 breakaways, and a couple point blank shots on set pieces. Messi started turning it up before half time, but they have to win this game if they want to make the knock outs.

Not a good sign when MLS struggles with an Egyptian side.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Not a good sign when MLS struggles with an Egyptian side.

Didn't Egypt do very well in a recent tournament? They have some very good players. Mo Salah, of course; Omar Marmoush (Man City MF / Winger), Mohammed El Neny, the MF who used to play for Arsenal, Trezeget (the guy playing for Al Ahly), there's that winger El Sharaway who used to play in the Premier League and is now in Italy. They have some guys. It's not like they're some Caribbean nation.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Ticket prices drop. Thousands of unsold tickets. I hope this isn't a harbinger of the World Cup next year. I wonder if it's just customer fatigue, they were obviously greedy with the original pricing. I wonder if our border policies are inhibiting tourism from abroad.

FIFA slashes ticket prices for Club World Cup opener, tens of thousands unsold for Inter Miami game

Sources have told The Athletic that FIFA has been concerned that the opening match has not been selling as well as expected.

www.nytimes.com

Well blue jays fans normally flock in droves to Seattle when the jays play their one series a year there. It’s a stadium takeover . Not so much this year

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Didn't Egypt do very well in a recent tournament? They have some very good players. Mo Salah, of course; Omar Marmoush (Man City MF / Winger), Mohammed El Neny, the MF who used to play for Arsenal, Trezeget (the guy playing for Al Ahly), there's that winger El Sharaway who used to play in the Premier League and is now in Italy. They have some guys. It's not like they're some Caribbean nation.

Yes, should have clarified what I meant.

If they are struggling against an Egyptian side, does not bode well for when they have to play European or South American sides and, therefore, does not bode well for their chances of advancing.

Not that that is a big surprise.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Miami up 2-1 in the second vs FC Porto. Seems to be a decent level upset if it holds

 

[IthacaMatt]

Group stages are just about wrapped up. Brazilian and Argentina club teams have crushed it, except legendary Boca Juniors, who are out at the group stage. Messi carries Miami to the Knock Out round. With a little luck they could have won their group, and gotten a round deeper.

 

[jordville]

Messi/Miami vs PSG today at noon in Atlanta!

 

[upperdeck]

+1450 for Miami as 2.5 dogs.

 

[cusefan88]

They've played to 50-60% filled stadiums so far. Assuming today will be packed. Honestly a poorly run tournament all around from venue choices to kickoff times.

Players need a break and FIFA wants to money grub maybe 16-teams is better. Though they will do what the oil barons want.

 

[upperdeck]

is DAZN the only way to watch?

 

[jordville]

is DAZN the only way to watch?

It is on TNT as well.

 

[upperdeck]

thanks

Not much to see. One team so afraid to go forward they go backward and keep making things worse

 

[orange79]

Messi/Miami vs PSG today at noon in Atlanta!