Everything you need to know about FIFA Club World Cup in Charlotte

Axios

6 hours ago

Charlotte will host four FIFA Club World Cup matches this summer, bringing some of the biggest names in soccer to the city and putting a global spotlight on the area.
Why it matters: Typically, when big-name clubs come to town, it's for summer friendlies, which don't count toward team rankings. For this tournament, however, there's a trophy on the line.
The intrigue: Let's get one thing straight — the FIFA Club World Cup is not to be confused with the FIFA World Cup.
The former features clubs (aka teams) like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
The latter features countries like England and Argentina, and will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico next summer.
What to expect: Uptown will be packed with frenetic excitement as people travel from all over to see their favorite players and teams take the pitch at Bank of America Stadium.
There will be two group stage matches and two Round of 16 matches:
June 22: Spanish titans Real Madrid will play Mexican team Pachuca at 3pm. Tickets start at $108.80.
June 24: German giant Bayern Munich plays Portuguese team Benfica at 3pm. Tickets start at $33.01.
June 28 and 30: Round of 16 matches at 4pm and 3pm respectively. Tickets start at $81.91 for the June 28 match and $42.79 for the June 30 match.
If you're looking for a good Charlotte soccer bar, Hooligans (140 Brevard Ct.) is within walking distance of the stadium.
If you go: Parking in Uptown will be hectic and pricey. The CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar and the Lynx Blue Line are both within walking distance of Bank of America Stadium.
The Gold Line is currently free and runs east and west. Charlotte Gateway Station and the Mint Street stops are approximately half a mile from the stadium.
The Blue Line runs north and south from UNC Charlotte to I-485. Brooklyn Village Station and Carson Station are roughly half a mile from the stadium.
Weekly unlimited rides cost $30.80. A one-way ticket costs $2.20 for adults and $1.10 for kids.
Zoom in: Three teams competing in the FIFA Club World Cup will make North Carolina their home base during their tournament run.
South Korean team Ulsan HD will train at Atrium Health Performance Park, Charlotte FC's headquarters.
Mexican team Pachuca will train at UNC Charlotte.
Brazilian team Palmeiras will train at UNC Greensboro.
How it works: This year's FIFA-organized tournament features a new $1 billion prize pool and has expanded to include 32 teams. It's the best of the best from each continental confederation.
The monthlong tournament features 32 teams playing 63 matches across 12 stadiums. It runs June 14-July 13.
Teams will be split into eight groups of four. The top two in each group advance to a round of 16 and then knockout play through the finals.
Zoom out: All participating club teams have won a continental championship or ranked highly in their continental tournaments over the past four seasons.
Each confederation was given a set number of spots: 12 UEFA, six CONMEBOL, four CAF, AFC and Concacaf, and one team from the OFC and the host country.