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New York Times
an hour ago
- Business
- New York Times
Cristiano Ronaldo's future is unclear. Could he join one of the teams at the Club World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Al Nassr is up in the air after a disappointing season, and his contract is set to expire at the end of next month. The 40-year-old also posted a cryptic message on his social media earlier this week, writing: 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.' With Al Nassr not involved in the tournament, there have long been suggestions that Ronaldo could compete at FIFA's inaugural expanded Club World Cup, which takes place in the United States this summer. And the body's president Gianni Infantino added fuel to the fire during an interview with YouTuber IShowSpeed last weekend. Advertisement Discussing Lionel Messi competing in the event with his MLS club Inter Miami, Infantino then added: 'And Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup. There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup… who knows, who knows.' A special transfer window opens for teams competing in the Club World Cup between June 1 and June 10, with sides able to add players before its opening game on June 14. So, could a team move to sign Ronaldo between now and then? Are any of them interested? Is there a chance he could face eternal rival Messi, surely for the final time in their careers, at this tournament? The Athletic's team of reporters approached figures at clubs competing at the Club World Cup to ask whether they would be interested in a move for Ronaldo. Unless otherwise noted, those people spoke under the condition of anonymity to protect relationships. Their responses are below. Chelsea turned down the opportunity to sign Ronaldo in 2022, and are not going to change their minds three years later. The London club have already compiled a list of players they want to play up front for them in the future, including Hugo Ekitike, Liam Delap — who Chelsea have reached a transfer agreement for — and Benjamin Sesko. Like most of the Chelsea squad, these are players all under the age of 25 and have the best of their careers still to come. Their wage demands also fit into the general structure in place at Stamford Bridge. Ronaldo, while respected for all his achievements, simply does not fit into the club's recruitment strategy. Simon Johnson No chance. Juventus are still in arbitration with Ronaldo over an agreement that was made to defer some of his wages while he was with the Turin club during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) ordered Juventus to pay more than €9.7million ($10.35m, £8.3m), plus interest, to Ronaldo in back wages. James Horncastle As exciting as it could be, a Messi vs Ronaldo clash in the opening match of the 2025 Club World Cup is unlikely to happen. Ronaldo joining Al Ahly, the Egyptian side who kick the tournament off against Messi's Inter Miami in that Florida city in two weeks' time, is a transfer that's only possible in video games. Financially, the move just isn't logical due to his salary requirements. Ahmed Walid Mamelodi Sundowns are South Africa's richest team, backed by one of the country's wealthiest men, Patrice Motsepe, who has been in charge since 2003. Since Motsepe became president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2021, his son, Thlopie, has taken over as club chairman, running Sundowns on a day-to-day basis. Advertisement Thlopie confirmed last week that they are considering using the forthcoming transfer window but any new faces are only likely to arrive once their involvement in the Club World Cup is over. That responsibility will fall on Flemming Berg, the club's Danish sporting director, and his assistant, Ryan Hunt. Simon Hughes Palmeiras have not made any move, nor do they plan to do so, to sign Ronaldo. That has been the club's position since mid-May, when the first rumours surfaced that a team from Brazil was interested in the Portuguese forward. They also added they did not envision any Brazilian club being able to afford such a move. The doubts about whether Ronaldo will stay in Saudi Arabia or not, with his current contract about to expire, have not changed the scenario at the Sao Paulo club. Their attacking options will be young Estevao, a right-winger who will join Chelsea after this tournament; the Argentine Jose Manuel Lopez; or Vitor Roque, who failed to meet expectations at Spanish sides Barcelona and Real Betis over the past two seasons and did not score in his first nine games with Palmeiras after joining in February. Mario Cortegana Even as their Brazilian rivals have made a habit of making splashy signings from European football over the past decade, Fluminense have generally been more circumspect. This is in large part due to their financial situation: compared to the country's big hitters — Palmeiras, Flamengo, Corinthians — they have a pretty modest budget and prefer to cut their cloth accordingly. It was no surprise, then, that a source at the club immediately rejected the idea that Rio de Janeiro-based Fluminense could offer Ronaldo a new challenge. Jack Lang Another Brazilian side who have no interest in, and have had no discussions over, signing Ronaldo. Although the club's owner, John Textor, attended Al Nassr training sessions due to his relationship with their chief executive Majed AlJamaan, any suggestion that he might join the Rio side or that he would be involved in the Eagle Football multi-club vehicle where Textor is chairman have been described to The Athletic as 'a bizarre fantasy story'. Matt Woosnam Flamengo have also ruled out a move for Ronaldo ahead of the Club World Cup, mainly for financial reasons. Jorginho's arrival from Arsenal is their latest planned move for the tournament. Jose Boto, Flamengo's sporting director, is Portuguese and has very good contacts in his home country, which could potentially facilitate the deal at some point. However, it is not something Rio-based Flamengo have seriously considered. Mario Cortegana Inter's American ownership, the asset management firm Oaktree, has provided stability and financial security for this weekend's Champions League finalists. They are also committed to rejuvenating a squad that is the oldest in this season's Champions League. 'Investments will be made in slightly younger profiles who represent a real asset, players with potential who are an asset for the present and the future,' Inter's CEO Giuseppe Marotta explained to The Athletic this week. That doesn't sound like Ronaldo, who turned 40 in February. Advertisement Marotta was at Juventus when Ronaldo joined them in 2018, but that was a signing driven by colleague Fabio Paratici. Marotta left the club a few months later, and Inter have since replaced Juventus as the real force in Italian football. The prospect of Marotta signing Ronaldo for Inter — regardless of the new ownership's strategy for the Milanese club — is unlikely. James Horncastle Ronaldo and City manager Pep Guardiola nearly joined forces in 2021 before he decided to return to neighbours United from Juventus at the eleventh hour. A deal was broadly agreed then, but long phone conversations with former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and ex-Old Trafford team-mate Rio Ferdinand convinced Ronaldo how ruinous switching to the other side of Manchester would be for his legacy. At the time, City were also looking at Harry Kane to fill the centre-forward void left by the departure during the same window of Sergio Aguero. There is no such vacancy now that they have Erling Haaland, who has committed himself to the club for the next decade. City also added Omar Marmoush to their attacking ranks in January and are attempting to bring down the average age of the squad. Ronaldo is into his fifth decade, his powers are understandably waning, and he is unlikely to be able to play on one of the wings anymore. That said, the way Guardiola has incorporated Haaland into his team by allowing him not to get involved in any build-up play is a dilution of his football idealism that was not known four years ago. It would have been fun to see Guardiola work with Ronaldo, having played such an important role in Messi's first few years at Barcelona, but the chances of it happening are virtually zero. Jordan Campbell Since his departure from Madrid to join Juventus, Ronaldo has explored the possibility of moving back to the Bernabeu on several occasions. The last opportunity was two years ago, when he was on his way out of United. According to senior sources at Madrid, his agent at the time, Jorge Mendes, offered him to them several times during the summer of 2023, with very advantageous financial conditions. Advertisement The club's stance has always been clear in these situations, as it was during this season when the possibility of Sergio Ramos returning also came up: they have total gratitude for both players' time at the club, but they believe it should be left in the past. Madrid are committed to their project, which is now focused on new blood, without focusing on the economic elements. Mario Cortegana and Guillermo Rai There is zero chance. Bayern's forward line will be led by Kane this summer in the States, and Ronaldo would offer nothing beyond unhelpful media attention. The German champions are paying no attention to his availability at all. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor The French club have not made any moves in terms of Ronaldo, and has no plans to do so. Their total focus is on the Champions League final showdown with Inter on Saturday night, which also shows why bringing him in is not among their plans. Their overall project as a club has pivoted since manager Luis Enrique's 2024 arrival to build a team based on their Spanish coach and young talent, moving away from the collection of the world's most famous stars previously in the line-up. The success of this season reinforces this idea and has led to renewing the contracts in recent months of the aforementioned Luis Enrique and sporting director Luis Campos, who is always in close contact with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Mario Cortegana In Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund believe they have one of the in-form forwards in European football and they will head to the U.S. fully confident in their ability to score plenty of goals in this tournament. There's no conversation to be had about signing Ronaldo. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor Ronaldo will not be joining Atletico for the Club World Cup. The Spanish club are taking the tournament very seriously, and coach Diego Simeone's team will be playing their usual high-intensity, hard-working style, and have top internationals such as Julian Alvarez, Alexander Sorloth and Antoine Griezmann to lead their attack. Advertisement Adding the 40-year-old former Madrid player for their U.S. challenge would just not make sense. Dermot Corrigan Porto have no interest in signing Ronaldo, who came through the academy at one of their great domestic rivals, Lisbon's Sporting CP. They are, however, focusing their efforts on another (far younger) forward from the Saudi Pro League: Gabri Veiga. The 23-year-old made a surprise move from Celta Vigo to Al Ahli two years ago and is a key target for them this summer. James Horncastle Ronaldo supported Benfica as a young boy, but it would be a colossal surprise if they were to approach him now. He came through the youth ranks at their local Lisbon rivals, Sporting, and it would need a huge amount of PR massaging to make a cross-city move look like anything other than a betrayal, even at this late stage of his career. He also once stuck a middle finger up at Benfica fans while playing for United, so the appetite from their supporters for his signing might also be limited. Jack Lang In recent seasons, the Mexicans have been known for signing La Liga stars such as Sergio Canales and especially Sergio Ramos. For that reason, it might seem logical that they would be looking to do the same with Ronaldo. However, very senior sources at Monterrey played down this option ahead of the Club World Cup: 'We haven't moved on anything at all. But there is so much noise that, if he wants to come and he comes for free, then we will think about it.' Guillermo Rai A source close to Ronaldo told The Athletic last week that it would not make sense for Al Nassr to renew his contract and then move him out on loan to a team playing in the Club World Cup. That said, a renewal is not out of the question. However, a source at the Riyadh club suggested it depended in part on the outcome of their season — and this came to a negative end, with Al Nassr finishing third in the Saudi Pro League, having lost in the Asian Champions League's semi-finals. Guillermo Rai
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Messi in top form, but Inter Miami faces Columbus Crew on Saturday with depleted roster
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with teammates Sergio Busquets (5) and Federico Redondo (55) after scoring during the first half of an MLS match against CF Montréal at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after scoring a goal against CF Montréal in the first half of their MLS match at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against CF Montréal in the first half of their MLS match at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after scoring a goal against CF Montréal in the second half of their MLS match at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after scoring a goal against CF Montréal in the second half of their MLS match at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with teammates Sergio Busquets (5) and Federico Redondo (55) after scoring during the first half of an MLS match against CF Montréal at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after scoring a goal against CF Montréal in the first half of their MLS match at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against CF Montréal in the first half of their MLS match at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after scoring a goal against CF Montréal in the second half of their MLS match at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Inter Miami, eager to build on a midweek victory and head into June on a high note after a miserable May, will be forced to play with a depleted roster against perennial power Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium on Saturday. In addition to the loss of defensive midfielder Yannick Bright, who is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury, Miami lost left back Jordi Alba and center backs Gonzalo Lujan and Tomas 'Toto' Aviles to injury during Wednesday's 4-2 win against Montreal. Advertisement Alba and Lujan have unspecified leg muscle injuries and Aviles hurt his ankle. Coach Javier Mascherano said there is no timetable for their return. The team is off for FIFA break after Saturday's game and returns to action June 14 for the opening match of the Club World Cup against Egyptian team Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami's defense has been shaky of late, giving up 15 goals over the past five games, so the loss of those four players is particularly costly. Maxi Falcon and David Martinez, who finished the game at center back on Wednesday, are likely starters with Ian Fray at right back and Noah Allen on the left. 'Clearly, we have a very long list of injuries,' Mascherano said Friday. 'I would love to have a crystal ball to know when they'll be back. For sure they cannot play this weekend. Then we have two weeks, and, although I am not a doctor, we think a few of them can recover by then. And then, we hope the players who are leaving for national team duty come back healthy, as well.' Advertisement Lionel Messi was called up by Argentina for World Cup qualifiers against Chile on June 5 and Colombia on June 10. Telasco Segovia was called up by Venezuela for World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia on June 6 and Uruguay on June 10. Haiti invited Fafa Picault for World Cup qualifiers against Aruba on June 7 and Curacao on June 10. Benja Cremaschi will be with the U.S. Under-20 national team in Egypt for a camp and friendlies against Colombia on June 7 and Egypt on June 10. But first, it has a difficult game on Saturday against the Crew (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). Columbus last year won the Leagues Cup, reached the final of the Champions Cup, and like Miami, fell short in the playoffs. Also, like Miami, the Crew is in a bit of a slump, heading into this game on a five-game winless streak with four ties and a loss. Columbus is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points. Inter Miami is in sixth place with 26 points and has a game in hand on the top nine teams in the conference. Advertisement A victory Saturday would allow Miami to leapfrog the Crew in the standings. 'We want to play a good game Saturday, reinforce what we did against Montreal and improve in the areas we need to improve,' Mascherano said. 'We know we are facing, in my opinion, the best team in MLS, without a doubt. They have a coach who has a very clear style and does it very well. It is important for us to neutralize them and not let them play their game and control the game and win it.' Miami beat Columbus 1-0 on the road April 10 on a goal by Cremaschi. The Crew plays a possession-style attack, as does Miami, and is getting adjusted to playing without Cucho Hernandez, who left for Spanish club Real Betis. Daniel Gazdag, a designated player who joined Columbus from Philadelphia, remains scoreless through his first eight games with the Crew and has no assists. Advertisement Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari signed a contract extension through 2026 on Thursday. The 38-year-old Argentine is a locker room leader and has tried to keep the team calm during the ups and downs. 'I see the stats floating around and what people are saying,' Ustari said. 'But if you really calculate, our situation is not that bad. It's true when you have Messi on your team, the expectations are going to be extremely high. But we have done a lot of things very well. There is more that we've done well than what we haven't. Yes, we have things to improve, but we are still a growing team with a lot of young players.' Angel Di Maria was not an option for Inter Miami Many Inter Miami fans hoped that Argentine great Angel Di Maria would join Messi at Inter Miami, but Mascherano, who was also Di Maria's longtime teammate with the national team, said he knew that was never an option. Advertisement Di Maria, 37, announced this week that he was leaving Portuguese club Benfica and returning to his boyhood club Rosario Central in Argentina. 'I am friends with him, and I knew there was no chance he was coming to Miami because he wanted to go home,' Mascherano said. 'It was a decision he made a long time ago. You have to understand that when you spend many, many years away from home, it is normal to want to return home and be with your loved ones. Especially in his case, with a chance to return to his club, where it all began. 'He wanted to finish his career in Central, so I am very happy for him.'
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
When is the FIFA Club World Cup? Dates, times, schedule for 2025 tournament
When is the FIFA Club World Cup? Dates, times, schedule for 2025 tournament Show Caption Hide Caption FIFA Club World Cup will set stage for big things in United States The FIFA Club World Cup is set to take the global stage and two legendary managers explain how it will have an impact on fans and the 2026 World Cup. Sports Seriously Many of the world's best professional soccer clubs are about to face one another on American soil, and these won't be the standard exhibition matches fans in the United States have had to settle for in the past when the top teams come to play here. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is set to begin in full next month at stadiums throughout the USA for the first time, with 64 matches on the docket to decide the tournament winner. There is an expanded field of 32 club teams representing 20 different countries this year. Some of the sport's biggest stars and tradition-rich clubs are slated to participate, including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. The action officially gets underway on Saturday, May 31 when LAFC of Major League Soccer faces Club América of Mexico in a play-in game to determine the final team in the field. There's also the added intrigue of Cristiano Ronaldo potentially switching clubs in time for the start of the tournament. The event has existed in various forms since 2000, but the format now resembles what will be used in 2026 when the World Cup returns stateside for the first time in 30 years. Club teams have been placed into eight groups of four and will play three round-robin games, with the top two teams in each group then advancing to the knockout stage featuring the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals. The bracket concludes with the FIFA Club World Cup finals at MetLife Stadium outside New York on July 13. The new 2025 group stage and bracket has 12 clubs from Europe, six from South America, four from Asia, four from Africa, four from North America, four from Central America and the Caribbean, one from Oceania and two from the United States. The Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami of Major League Soccer each qualified for this year's tournament. Here's more information on the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, including the groups for round-robin play and a complete event schedule: Watch every Club World Cup game FREE with DAZN BACKGROUND: FIFA Club World Cup host cities to receive $1M each for future soccer projects When is the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup? Group Stage : June 14-June 26 : June 14-June 26 Round of 16 : June 28-July 1 : June 28-July 1 Quarterfinals : July 4-5 : July 4-5 Semifinals : July 8-9 : July 8-9 Finals: July 13 What teams are in FIFA Club World Cup? There are 32 teams in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup that have been separated into eight groups of four for the round-robin group stage in June. Here's how the field breaks down Group A Al Ahly FC (Egypt) FC Porto (Portugal) SE Palmeiras (Brazil) Inter Miami (United States) Group B Paris Saint-Germain (France) Atlético de Madrid (Spain) Botafogo (Brazil) Seattle Sounders FC (United States) Group C FC Bayern München (Germany) Auckland City FC (New Zealand) CA Boca Juniors (Argentina) SL Benfica (Portugal) Group D Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) CR Flamengo (Brazil) Chelsea FC (England) LAFC (United States)/Club América (Mexico) Group E CA River Plate (Argentina) Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) CF Monterrey (Mexico) Inter Milan (Italy) Group F Fluminense FC (Brazil) Borussia Dortmund (Germany) Ulsan HD (South Korea) Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) Group G Manchester City (England) Wydad AC (Morocco) Al Ain FC (United Arab Emirates) Juventus FC (Italy) Group H Real Madrid (Spain) Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) CF Pachuca (Mexico) FC Salzburg (Austria) How to watch FIFA World Cup 2025: TV, streaming options Every match during the 2025 FIFA World Cup will be live streamed for free on which is the exclusive global broadcaster of the event. FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match schedule PLAY IN GAME Saturday, May 31 Group D: LAFC vs. Club America, 10:30 p.m. ET (Los Angeles) GROUP STAGE Saturday, June 14 Group A: Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. ET (Miami) Sunday, June 15 Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Group A: SE Palmeiras vs. FC Porto, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) SE Palmeiras vs. FC Porto, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Group B: Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders, 10 p.m. ET (Seattle) Monday, June 16 Group D: Chelsea vs. LAFC/Club América, 3 p.m. ET (Atlanta) Chelsea vs. LAFC/Club América, 3 p.m. ET (Atlanta) Group C: Boca Juniors vs. Benfica, 6 p.m. ET (Miami) Boca Juniors vs. Benfica, 6 p.m. ET (Miami) Group D: Flamengo vs. Espérance de Tunis, 9 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Tuesday, June 17 Group F: Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Group E: River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group F: Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 6 p.m. ET (Orlando, Florida) Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 6 p.m. ET (Orlando, Florida) Group E: Monterrey vs. Inter Milan, 9 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Wednesday, June 18 Group G: Manchester City vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Manchester City vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Group H: Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal, 3 p.m. ET (Miami) Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal, 3 p.m. ET (Miami) Group H: Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg, 6 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg, 6 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Group G: Al Ain vs. Juventus, 9 p.m. (Washington, D.C.) Thursday, June 19 Group A: Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly, 12 p.m. ET, (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly, 12 p.m. ET, (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Group A: Inter Miami vs. Porto, 3 p.m. ET, (Atlanta) Inter Miami vs. Porto, 3 p.m. ET, (Atlanta) Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Atlético Madrid, 6 p.m. ET (Seattle) Seattle Sounders vs. Atlético Madrid, 6 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Botafogo, 9 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Friday, June 20 Group C: Benfica vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET (Orlando, Florida) Benfica vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET (Orlando, Florida) Group D: Flamengo vs. Chelsea, 2 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Flamengo vs. Chelsea, 2 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Group D : LAFC/Club América vs. Espérance de Tunis, 6 p.m. ET (Nashville, Tennessee) : LAFC/Club América vs. Espérance de Tunis, 6 p.m. ET (Nashville, Tennessee) Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors, 9 p.m. ET (Miami) Saturday, June 21 Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Group E: Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group F: Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Group E: River Plate vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Sunday, June 22 Group G: Juventus vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Juventus vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Group H: Real Madrid vs. Pachuca, 3 p.m. ET (Charlotte, North Carolina) Real Madrid vs. Pachuca, 3 p.m. ET (Charlotte, North Carolina) Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal, 6 p.m. ET (Washington, D.C.) FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal, 6 p.m. ET (Washington, D.C.) Group G: Manchester City vs. Al Ain, 9 p.m. ET (Atlanta) Monday, June 23 Group B: Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Group B : Seattle Sounders vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) : Seattle Sounders vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group A: Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras, 9 p.m. ET (Miami) Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras, 9 p.m. ET (Miami) Group A: Porto vs. Al Ahly, 9 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Tuesday, June 24 Group C: Benfica vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ET (Charlotte) Benfica vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ET (Charlotte) Group C: Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m. ET (Nashville) Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m. ET (Nashville) Group D: Espérance de Tunis vs. Chelsea, 9 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Espérance de Tunis vs. Chelsea, 9 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Group D: LAFC/Club América vs. Flamengo, 9 p.m. ET (Orlando) Wednesday, June 25 Group F: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m. ET (Miami) Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m. ET (Miami) Group E: Inter Milan vs. River Plate, 9 p.m. ET (Seattle) Inter Milan vs. River Plate, 9 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group E: Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET (Pasadena) Thursday, June 26 Group G: Wydad AC vs. Al Ain, 3 p.m. ET (Washington) Wydad AC vs. Al Ain, 3 p.m. ET (Washington) Group G: Juventus vs. Manchester City, 3 p.m. ET (Orlando) Juventus vs. Manchester City, 3 p.m. ET (Orlando) Group H: Al Hilal vs. Pachuca, 9 p.m. ET (Nashville) Al Hilal vs. Pachuca, 9 p.m. ET (Nashville) Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Real Madrid, 9 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 Saturday, June 28 Match 49: Winners of Group A vs. Group B runner-up (Philadelphia) Match 50: Winners of Group C vs. Group D runner-up (Charlotte) Sunday, June 29 Match 51: Winners of Group B vs. Group A runner-up (Atlanta) Match 52: Winners of Group D vs. Group C runner-up (Miami) Monday, June 30 Match 53: Winners of Group E vs. Group F runner-up (Charlotte) Match 54: Winners of Group G vs. Group H runner-up (Orlando) Tuesday, July 1 Match 55: Winners of Group F vs. Group E runner-up (Atlanta) Match 56: Winners of Group H vs. Group G runner-up (Miami) FIFA Club World Cup Quarterfinals Friday, July 4 Match 57: Winners of Match 49 vs. Winners of Match 50 (Philadelphia) Match 58: Winners of Match 53 vs. Winners of Match 54 (Orlando) Saturday, July 5 Match 59: Winners of Match 51 vs. Winners of Match 52 (Atlanta) Match 60: Winners of Match 55 vs. Winners of Match 56 (East Rutherford) FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals Tuesday, July 8 Match 61: Winners of Match 57 vs. Winners of Match 58 (East Rutherford) Wednesday, July 9 Match 62: Winners of Match 59 vs. Winners of Match 60 (East Rutherford) FIFA Club World Cup Final Sunday, July 13 Match 63: Winners of Match 61 vs. Winners of Match 62 (East Rutherford) Watch the FIFA Club World Cup FREE with DAZN
Economic Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Economic Times
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Full schedule, groups, and key fixtures unveiled for U.S. debut
Tournament Structure: Expanded Format Mirrors 2026 World Cup Live Events Key Dates for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group Stage: June 14 – June 26 Round of 16: June 28 – July 1 Quarterfinals: July 4 – July 5 Semifinals: July 8 – July 9 Final: July 13 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Fixture Highlights: Messi, Ronaldo, and Global Icons on Display How to Watch the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group A: Al Ahly, FC Porto, SE Palmeiras, Inter Miami Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, SL Benfica Group D: Chelsea, Flamengo, Espérance de Tunis, LAFC/Club América Group E: Inter Milan, River Plate, CF Monterrey, Urawa Red Diamonds Group F: Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns Group G: Manchester City, Juventus, Al Ain FC, Wydad AC Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, CF Pachuca, FC Salzburg American Audiences to Witness High-Stakes Club Football FAQs When and where will the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 take place? How many teams are competing? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The world's premier club football showdown, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, is all set to kick off in the United States, marking the tournament's largest-ever edition. For the first time in its history, the FIFA Club World Cup schedule features 32 elite teams from 20 countries, competing across American venues in what promises to be a landmark moment for global football on U.S. soil. The expanded format begins officially with a play-in fixture on May 31, featuring LAFC and Club América, vying for the final spot in the tournament's group main phase of the tournament begins on June 14, leading up to the grand final on July 13 at the iconic MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, as mentioned in a report by USA a nod to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 structure, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup introduces eight groups with four clubs each. The top two from each group will progress to a traditional knockout format beginning with the Round of clubs, including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Chelsea are among the confirmed participants. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders represent Major League 12 clubs hail from Europe, with additional representation from South America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and CONCACAF regions, as per a report by USA group stage begins with a high-profile clash between Al Ahly and Inter Miami on June 14 in Miami. The very next day, Bayern Munich faces Auckland City, while Paris Saint-Germain meets Atlético Madrid in speculation swirling around a potential transfer involving Cristiano Ronaldo, interest in the tournament continues to mount. Matches will take place in cities such as Seattle, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Orlando, and Washington, D.C., ensuring nationwide fan match of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be streamed live and globally accessible via the tournament's official broadcasting Stage Overview: A Diverse SlateUnlike past summer exhibitions, this edition of the FIFA Club World Cup schedule features competitive fixtures with silverware at stake. With clubs arriving at full strength and national pride on the line, the 2025 tournament is expected to ignite fervour among U.S. fans and boost football's footprint in North global titans take to American pitches this summer, the stage is set for a historic edition of club football's most prestigious global tournament begins May 31 with a play-in match and officially runs from June 14 to July 13, 2025, across major U.S. cities. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.A record 32 clubs from 20 countries are participating in the expanded format.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Full schedule, groups, and key fixtures unveiled for U.S. debut
The world's premier club football showdown, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 , is all set to kick off in the United States, marking the tournament's largest-ever edition. For the first time in its history, the FIFA Club World Cup schedule features 32 elite teams from 20 countries, competing across American venues in what promises to be a landmark moment for global football on U.S. soil. The expanded format begins officially with a play-in fixture on May 31, featuring LAFC and Club América, vying for the final spot in the tournament's group stage. The main phase of the tournament begins on June 14, leading up to the grand final on July 13 at the iconic MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, as mentioned in a report by USA Today. Tournament Structure: Expanded Format Mirrors 2026 World Cup In a nod to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 structure, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup introduces eight groups with four clubs each. The top two from each group will progress to a traditional knockout format beginning with the Round of 16. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cadou Perfect pentru Copii sau Părinți - Tabletă Practică! LY Cumpără acum Undo Major clubs, including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Chelsea are among the confirmed participants. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders represent Major League Soccer. Notably, 12 clubs hail from Europe, with additional representation from South America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and CONCACAF regions, as per a report by USA Today. Live Events Key Dates for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group Stage: June 14 – June 26 Round of 16: June 28 – July 1 Quarterfinals: July 4 – July 5 Semifinals: July 8 – July 9 Final: July 13 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Fixture Highlights: Messi, Ronaldo, and Global Icons on Display The group stage begins with a high-profile clash between Al Ahly and Inter Miami on June 14 in Miami. The very next day, Bayern Munich faces Auckland City, while Paris Saint-Germain meets Atlético Madrid in California. With speculation swirling around a potential transfer involving Cristiano Ronaldo, interest in the tournament continues to mount. Matches will take place in cities such as Seattle, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Orlando, and Washington, D.C., ensuring nationwide fan engagement. How to Watch the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Every match of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be streamed live and globally accessible via the tournament's official broadcasting partner. Group Stage Overview: A Diverse Slate Group A: Al Ahly, FC Porto, SE Palmeiras, Inter Miami Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, SL Benfica Group D: Chelsea, Flamengo, Espérance de Tunis, LAFC/Club América Group E: Inter Milan, River Plate, CF Monterrey, Urawa Red Diamonds Group F: Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns Group G: Manchester City, Juventus, Al Ain FC, Wydad AC Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, CF Pachuca, FC Salzburg American Audiences to Witness High-Stakes Club Football Unlike past summer exhibitions, this edition of the FIFA Club World Cup schedule features competitive fixtures with silverware at stake. With clubs arriving at full strength and national pride on the line, the 2025 tournament is expected to ignite fervour among U.S. fans and boost football's footprint in North America. As global titans take to American pitches this summer, the stage is set for a historic edition of club football's most prestigious global event. FAQs When and where will the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 take place? The tournament begins May 31 with a play-in match and officially runs from June 14 to July 13, 2025, across major U.S. cities. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. How many teams are competing? A record 32 clubs from 20 countries are participating in the expanded format.
