FIFA Club World Cup comes to D.C.'s Audi Field
The FIFA Club World Cup just kicked off in the U.S. and is coming to D.C. on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The tournament gives soccer fans a taste of elite action ahead of next year's World Cup, bringing together the best club teams from each continental confederation.
State of play: D.C.'s Audi Field hosts three matches.
June 18: United Arab Emirates' Al Ain FC vs. Juventus FC at 9pm
June 22: Red Bull Salzburg vs. Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia at 6pm
June 26: Al Ain vs. Morocco's Wydad at 3pm
Zoom in: The men's tournament provides global exposure and large potential winnings for teams. It's also great preparation for the U.S., which hasn't hosted a World Cup since 1994 (men's) and 2003 (women's).
The tournament follows a format similar to the World Cup. All 32 teams are split into eight groups of four. The top two in each group advance to a round of 16, and then it's knockout play through the finals.
Between the lines: The Trump administration's immigration crackdown has raised fear among fans and led to low ticket sales in certain cities after U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted on social media that agents would be "suited and booted ready to provide security for the first round of games," per The Athletic.
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