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CNET
02-07-2025
- Sport
- CNET
UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Tickets: How to Livestream the Soccer Tournament for Free from Anywhere
A month-long celebration of women's international soccer is underway in Switzerland, as the continent's top teams battle it out at Euro 2025. Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch every match of the tournament as it happens, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if the match isn't available where you are, along with a full fixture list. England come into the tournament as the defending champions after their memorable triumph on home turf in 2022, but it's Spain who are seen by many as the favorites, with La Roja looking to seal an international treble after winning both the World Cup and the Nations League. Key players to look out for include Spain's lightning-fast winger Salma Paralluelo and her free-scoring compatriot Alexia Putellas, England's deadly striker Alessia Russo and German midfielder and skipper Giulia Gwinn. England enter Euro 2025 in Switzerland as the defending champions. Maja Hitij - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images Livestream the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 in the US Soccer fans in the US have several options for watching this tournament. Linear channels FOX and FS1 will show every game. If you don't have Fox and FS1 in your cable lineup, you can stream both via Sling TV and Fubo. Sling/CNET Sling TV Watch Euro 2025 soccer on Fox Sling TV's Blue plan includes Fox and FS1, making it a great option for those wanting to watch international soccer action. Sling Blue normally costs $46 per month, but right now you can get your first month for just $23. See at Sling How to watch the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 online from anywhere using a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the international soccer action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. They can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial. James Martin/CNET ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year) Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 tests Network 3,000 plus servers in 105 countries Jurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months) See at ExpressVPN Livestream UEFA Women's Euro 2025 games for free in the UK The great news for footy fans in the UK is that free-to-air broadcasters the BBC and ITV are sharing live duties for Euro 2025. S4C will be offering Welsh-language coverage of every Wales game. BBC BBC Watch Women's Euro 2025 in the UK for free With matches being broadcast on BBC1, that means you'll be able to watch games online for free via the network's on-demand streaming service, BBC iPlayer. With an app that's available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs and streaming boxes, all you need is a valid UK TV license to stream the game. See at BBC ITV ITV Watch Women's Euro 2025 games in the UK for free For matches being broadcast on ITV1, you'll also have the option of watching the game online for free via the network's on-demand streaming service, ITVX (formerly ITV Hub). The service has an updated app that's available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs. See at ITV Livestream the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 in Canada Live coverage of this summer's tournament will be available to watch in Canada via TSN, which means you'll also be able to stream all the action via the network's online platform, TSN Plus. Livestream the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 in Australia Football fans down under can watch this summer's tournament on streaming service Optus Sport. Optus Optus Sport Watch international soccer in Australia from AU$7 a month With exclusive live broadcast rights to a number of top flight European leagues as well as international fixtures, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans. If you're already an Optus network customer you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price of AU$10 a month. If you're not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25. See at Optus Sport UEFA Women's Euro 2025: The groups Group A • Switzerland (hosts) • Norway • Iceland • Finland Group B • Spain • Portugal • Belgium • Italy Group C • Germany • Poland • Denmark • Sweden Group D • France • England (defending champions) • Wales • Netherlands UEFA Women's Euro 2025: The venues St. Jakob-Park: Basel (capacity: 35,689) Stadion Wankdorf, Bern (capacity: 32,997) Stade de Genève, Geneva (capacity: 30,950) Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich (capacity: 24,186) Arena St. Gallen (capacity: 18,251) Allmend Stadion Luzern, Lucerne (capacity: 16,496) Arena Thun, Thun (capacity: 10,187) Stade de Tourbillon, Sion (capacity: 9,570) UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Full fixture schedule Group stage Wednesday, July 2 Iceland vs Finland, 5 p.m., Group A, Arena Thun Switzerland vs Norway, 8 p.m., Group A, St. Jakob-Park Thursday, July 3 Belgium vs Italy, 5 p.m., Group B, Stade de Tourbillon Spain vs Portugal, 8 p.m., Group B, Stadion Wankdorf Friday, July 4 Denmark vs Sweden, 5 p.m., Group C, Stade de Genève Germany vs Poland, 8 p.m., Group C, Arena Saturday, July 5 Wales vs Netherlands, 5 p.m., Group D, Allmend Stadion Luzern France vs England, 8 p.m., Group D, Stadion Letzigrund Sunday, July 6 Norway vs Finland, 5 p.m., Group A, Stade de Tourbillon Switzerland vs Iceland, 8 p.m., Group A, Stadion Wankdorf Monday, July 7 Spain vs Belgium, 5 p.m., Group B, Arena Thun Portugal vs Italy, 8 p.m., Group B, Stade de Genève Tuesday, July 8 Germany vs Denmark, 5 p.m., Group C, St. Jakob-Park Poland vs Sweden, 8 p.m., Group C, Allmend Stadion Luzern Wednesday, July 9 England vs Netherlands, 5 p.m., Group D, Stadion Letzigrund France vs Wales, 8 p.m., Group D, Arena Thursday, July 10 Finland vs Switzerland, 8 p.m., Group A, Stade de Genève Norway vs Iceland, 8 p.m., Group A, Arena Thun Friday, July 11 Italy vs Spain, 8 p.m., Group B, Stadion Wankdorf Portugal vs Belgium, 8 p.m., Group B, Stade de Tourbillon Saturday, July 12 Sweden vs Germany, 8 p.m., Group C, Stadion Letzigrund Poland vs Denmark, 8 p.m., Group C, Allmend Stadion Luzern Sunday, July 13 Netherlands vs France, 8 p.m., Group D, St. Jakob-Park England vs Wales, 8 p.m., Group D, Arena Quarterfinals Wednesday, July 16 Winner group A vs runner-up group B, 8 p.m., Stade de Genève Thursday, July 17 Winner group C vs runner-up group D, 8 p.m., Stadion Letzigrund Friday, July 18 Winner group B vs runner-up group A, 8 p.m., Stadion Wankdorf Saturday, July 19 Winner group D vs runner-up group C, 8 p.m., St. Jakob-Park Semifinals Tuesday, July 22 TBC vs TBC, 8 p.m., Stade de Genève Wednesday, July 23 TBC vs TBC, 8 p.m., Stadion Letzigrund Final Sunday, July 27 TBC vs TBC, 5 p.m., St. Jakob-Park Quick tips for streaming UEFA Women's Euro 2025 soccer using a VPN
Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Warning shot for 2026: Club World Cup's brutal heat exposes a World Cup risk
In the 31 years since the United States last hosted the men's World Cup , a few things remain unchanged. Recent politics notwithstanding, the US population is diverse and air travel is relatively easy, so international games tend to attract supporters no matter where they live. As long as ticket prices are reasonable, a good crowd is a good bet. Also – it still gets really hot in the summer. This, of course, is not news. It was a major subplot of the 1994 World Cup, it will be a major subplot of the 2026 edition – which the US will co-host with Canada and Mexico as the climate crisis makes heatwaves more likely – and it's a major subplot of the Club World Cup this summer. The 19th-century Englishmen who wrote the first official Laws of the Game probably didn't anticipate the brutal heat that players often have to endure in a US summer, but everyone else should. Some rules of basic mathematics and climate are incontrovertible. A southern US venue plus a midday start time equals 22 players broiling in the sun, and it's odd that Fifa , in charge of the Club World Cup and next year's World Cup, does not appear to have foreseen that playing in blistering heat isn't much fun. READ MORE So who benefits from this scheduling and heat? And who appears to worry about it the most? The answer to both questions: Europe. Games aren't starting at noon and 3pm local time on weekdays for the benefit of fans in the US. Those games land neatly in the evening for European viewers. Yes, Fifa could schedule more games to start at 9pm local time when temperatures are much cooler, but that's well past midnight in Europe, which makes fans, broadcasters and sponsors less happy. But European teams aren't quite as happy about those earlier kick-offs. Consider Chelsea, who cut short their training session in the run-up to their 3-0 win over Espérance in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. They're not the first European squad to come to the east coast and notice, in the words of Jimmy Buffett, changes in latitude and changes in attitude. Philadelphia is 10 degrees closer to the equator than London – and Philly is one of the more northerly venues in this summer's Club World Cup. It is, in the organisers' defence, not usually this hot in Philadelphia or New York, and the one hot game in Pasadena was an aberration. Players have been spared the stifling summer conditions in Atlanta with games being played at the state of the art Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images Still, temperatures in the mid-30s Celsius/mid-90s Fahrenheit are hardly unusual in Orlando or Charlotte. (Nor are they unusual in Atlanta, but teams assigned to play there are breathing comfortably in the air conditioning under the dome of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.) And even with cool Seattle in the mix, the median temperature through Monday's games was 81F (27C), with a median heat index of 87F (31C), and the dew point at a muggy 68F. This suggests European teams will have a problem with temperatures this summer and at next year's World Cup; that Chelsea were at a disadvantage against the Tunisian champions even before they kicked off. And that's the reason why teams from Brazil, where the state leagues play in the southern hemisphere's summer, have impressed so far in this tournament. Perhaps that could be a function of the long-held stereotype that Latin America plays possession football to conserve energy in the heat while Europeans run around like maniacs, afraid that they'll freeze if they stand still too long. But the limited data from major tournaments in the US doesn't support the notion that European teams are doomed to wilt in a North American summer. Seven of the eight quarter-finalists at USA 1994 were from Europe. Sweden helped themselves to a 3-1 win at high noon in Dallas against Saudi Arabia, a team, one would presume, who would cope a little better in the heat. Romania and Switzerland advanced from group play at the expense of a heralded side from Colombia. In all, 10 of the 13 European teams, including Jack Charlton's Ireland side, advanced to the knock-out stage in 1994, while only two of the four South American teams made it out of the group stage. Concacaf, featuring the host USA and nearest neighbour Mexico, advanced both of its teams. Asia and Africa combined to have two of their five teams advance. That performance by Europe's best was an improvement from four years earlier on their home Continent. In Italy, all four South American sides reached the knock-out stage, along with Costa Rica and Cameroon. Eventual finalists Argentina were the only South American team in the quarter-finals, but Cameroon joined them. In group play, Scotland and Sweden found themselves eliminated by Brazil (expectedly) and Costa Rica (unexpectedly). These games, along with the decidedly mixed results in Qatar in 2022, aren't a particularly convincing sample size. And we have very little to go on for club games, aside from the preseason friendlies in which European clubs sleepwalk their way through steamy matches that rake in money from US fans drawn to the stadiums by celebrity and cosplay. Ireland's Roy Keane and Steve Staunton leave the pitch after the defeat to Mexico at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida during the 1994 World Cup. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho This Club World Cup has seen a handful of notable upsets, but they don't seem attributable to the weather. Inter Miami beat Porto indoors in Atlanta. Botafogo stunned Paris Saint-Germain on a mild night in Pasadena, also the site of the Mexican side Monterrey's draw against Inter Milan. Auckland City drew with Boca Juniors, but, if anything, it's the Argentinians who are more used to the heat. That leaves us with Chelsea, who lost to the Brazilian side Flamengo in warm Philadelphia. But is that a function of the weather, Flamengo being better than was first thought, or Chelsea not giving this tournament the same sense of urgency as their opponents? The heat also isn't hindering attendance, or teams' offensive power. PSG's four-goal outburst took place in the best-attended match, with more than 80,000 fans nearly filling the Rose Bowl in the one unusually hot Pasadena game. More than 70,000 fans gathered in Charlotte to see Real Madrid dispatch Pachuca 3-1 despite a temperature in the mid-90s Fahrenheit. Plotting all of the games' scores, attendance figures and reported temperatures shows little to no correlation – if anything, attendance and scoring have gone slightly up as the temperature rises. It appears people turn up to watch good matches, and stay away from bad matches, no matter what the temperature. But it would be stupid to deny playing in extreme heat can be dangerous. At last year's Copa América, hosted by the US, an assistant referee collapsed during a match played in suffocating heat in Kansas City. Heat also limits players' ability to play full-throttle football. One vivid example was the 2008 Olympic men's soccer final, played at midday in the cauldron of Beijing's Bird's Nest so that the stadium would be cleared in time for the evening's track and field events. Temperatures in the heat-trapping venue soared well above 100F (38C), and players were granted hydration breaks, common today but novel at the time. The lone goal was assisted by one Lionel Messi, playing alongside his current Inter Miami manager, Javier Mascherano, which perhaps bodes well for Inter's chances in the knock-out rounds. The scorer was Ángel Di María, who got another game with a heat index in the mid-100s on Tuesday in Charlotte with Benfica. At some point, southern heat overcomes southern hospitality, and organisers can surely do better with scheduling. Why play a game at 3pm local time in Charlotte? Surely Fifa can work with US organisers at next year's World Cup to make sure that afternoon games are played in cities such as Seattle, San Francisco or Vancouver – although the climate crisis means even those cities endure their share of sweltering days. And yet, after Benfica took a shock 1-0 lead against Bayern in the blistering heat in Charlotte on Tuesday, both teams could be seen pressing far into the opposition half. Today's elite players can, mostly, endure harsh conditions. But that doesn't mean Fifa should keep requiring them to do so when alternative schedules exist. – Guardian
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🎥 Brazilian beats in New York: Fluminense fans take over the Big Apple
South American fan culture knows no bounds of euphoria. The fans are proving that at the Club World Cup. The supporters of Fluminense are currently taking over New York. The Brazilian top club is playing against South Korean representative Ulsan at 0:00 and the fans are already getting in the mood on their way to the stadium. This sounds like a good mood. Hopefully, from Fluminense's point of view, it will still be that way on the way back. Advertisement This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. 📸 Francois Nel - 2025 Getty Images
CNN
20-06-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Lionel Messi: The player who's bigger than the club… and the FIFA Club World Cup tournament?
There's a well-worn cliché in soccer: No player is bigger than the club. At the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday in Atlanta, with the event still in its infancy, that old saying was tossed to the side and replaced by a question on the lips of the 31,783 in attendance – can a player be bigger than the tournament? The soccer star in question, of course, was a certain Lionel Andrés Messi, for whom the masses had made their pilgrimage to worship, as his Inter Miami took on Portuguese giant FC Porto in the second matchday of Group A. But until a magical Messi moment in the 54th minute, the match was in danger of becoming a mere sideshow to supporters expressing their admiration – actually, more like unbridled passion – for the 37-year-old who has long cemented his status as one of the greats of the sport. And let's face it: winning nearly everything of note for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain – as well as his country of Argentina, who is the reigning World Cup champion – doesn't exactly hurt his case. Ahead of kickoff outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it was evident how the pull of Messi knows no limits – or rather miles. While there were supporters from Atlanta in attendance, CNN Sports spoke with families from Louisiana, Alabama, Charleston, Washington DC, and Buffalo, as well as Puerto Rico and Dublin, Ireland. They had made the journey for one reason, despite one fan doing his best to convince all in earshot, including himself, that 'we are here for the football!' Inside, when Messi was introduced 30 minutes ahead of kickoff, the roar from the fairly sparse crowd resembled an environment more in keeping with a sold out stadium. It went up a couple of notches when he walked out again to a fuller house, as the players made their individual entrances to the field, seemingly a nod towards the Americanization of the sport – as FIFA President Gianni Infantino told CNN Sports' Coy Wire recently, this tournament will deliver '63 Super Bowls in one month.' Upon kickoff, with seemingly every touch of the ball from the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, the sounds from the stands ranged from 'ooh's' to whistles, with the 'Me-ssi!' chant the most popular. It was bordering on surprising that the crowd didn't serenade the Argentine with a chorus of 'Happy Birthday' given the Barça legend turns 38 on Tuesday. The match was a slow-burner, but exploded into life in the second half. Inter Miami found itself a goal down at the break, courtesy of an early penalty from Porto's Samu Aghehowa. After the spot kick was converted, Messi's reaction from near the center circle was to keep his hand firmly on his hip and not move a muscle for a good 10 seconds in a manner which suggested: 'This wasn't the plan.' Perhaps, then, it was Porto which didn't plan on Inter Miami's rapid response. Just two minutes into the second half, Telasco Segovia's smart finish flew past goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos to level the score, and seven minutes later, Messi stepped up. In every way. A free kick on the edge of the box, which the Argentine star won, brought the crowd to the edge of their seats. A sense of inevitability hung in the air as the maestro marked his territory and figured out the exact angle to place a whipped shot into the corner of the net. You almost had to feel for Ramos, who couldn't lay a glove on either strike. The goal was a thing of beauty, as we have been treated to so frequently over the years, with Portuguese defender José Fonte lauding Messi on the DAZN broadcast: 'Touched by God, isn't he? Incredible. What a player.' The stunner ended up not just being the match winner but resulted in the first time a team from the CONCACAF region has defeated a European side in a competitive fixture. It was Messi's 50th goal for the team as well. Not too shabby for a Thursday afternoon in the middle of June. A point in the final group game against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras next Monday will guarantee Inter Miami's place in the knockout phase. Cutting through the noise and one wonders what the powers at be in FIFA make of it all. The sport's governing body essentially fast-tracked Inter Miami into the 32-team tournament, not by virtue of winning the MLS Cup, but rather the regular season Supporters' Shield, which may have come with a trophy, but is ultimately a pathway into the postseason. Messi and Miami were shockingly bounced last year in a best-of-three playoff series by the team which can normally be found playing at this stunning 70,000-capacity stadium, Atlanta United, with the MLS Cup eventually hoisted aloft by LA Galaxy. But the Seattle Sounders and LAFC completed the contingent of the three MLS sides in the Club World Cup, leaving the Galaxy on the outside looking in, gazing enviously at the brightest star of them all. And with the Club World Cup finally finding its feet, thanks to Messi's left foot resulting in one of the tournament's first signature moments, the reality remains that he is what has drawn the crowds here on Thursday, and last Saturday to boot, with the opening game of the tournament attracting over 60,000 fans to Hard Rock Stadium in Messi's American base of Miami. Inter Miami is a relatively new MLS franchise, with co-owner David Beckham – who may have felt a modicum of sympathy for his former club, the LA Galaxy, not getting an invite to FIFA's party – the original reason for this franchise gaining relevance in 2018. Whether the Club World Cup – which is set to take place every four years, the same cycle as the slightly more established FIFA World Cup, which will be 96 years old next summer – can grow in stature remains to be seen. In the here and now, Messi and Messi alone is on the mind of everyone fortunate enough to witness him in action. And that extends to the players as well. When CNN Sports speaks with Messi's teammate Fafà Picault after the match, the three words the winger associates with the soccer superstar are 'leader, winner, and winner again,' before noting, 'Sometimes, it's not always said with words but just with signals and body actions, so we try to read off of that. Obviously, we have conversations behind doors, but there's a lot more than just talking that can show signs of leadership.' And on Thursday, Lionel Messi's actions spoke far louder than words.
CNN
20-06-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Lionel Messi: The player who's bigger than the club… and the FIFA Club World Cup tournament?
There's a well-worn cliché in soccer: No player is bigger than the club. At the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday in Atlanta, with the event still in its infancy, that old saying was tossed to the side and replaced by a question on the lips of the 31,783 in attendance – can a player be bigger than the tournament? The soccer star in question, of course, was a certain Lionel Andrés Messi, for whom the masses had made their pilgrimage to worship, as his Inter Miami took on Portuguese giant FC Porto in the second matchday of Group A. But until a magical Messi moment in the 54th minute, the match was in danger of becoming a mere sideshow to supporters expressing their admiration – actually, more like unbridled passion – for the 37-year-old who has long cemented his status as one of the greats of the sport. And let's face it: winning nearly everything of note for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain – as well as his country of Argentina, who is the reigning World Cup champion – doesn't exactly hurt his case. Ahead of kickoff outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it was evident how the pull of Messi knows no limits – or rather miles. While there were supporters from Atlanta in attendance, CNN Sports spoke with families from Louisiana, Alabama, Charleston, Washington DC, and Buffalo, as well as Puerto Rico and Dublin, Ireland. They had made the journey for one reason, despite one fan doing his best to convince all in earshot, including himself, that 'we are here for the football!' Inside, when Messi was introduced 30 minutes ahead of kickoff, the roar from the fairly sparse crowd resembled an environment more in keeping with a sold out stadium. It went up a couple of notches when he walked out again to a fuller house, as the players made their individual entrances to the field, seemingly a nod towards the Americanization of the sport – as FIFA President Gianni Infantino told CNN Sports' Coy Wire recently, this tournament will deliver '63 Super Bowls in one month.' Upon kickoff, with seemingly every touch of the ball from the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, the sounds from the stands ranged from 'ooh's' to whistles, with the 'Me-ssi!' chant the most popular. It was bordering on surprising that the crowd didn't serenade the Argentine with a chorus of 'Happy Birthday' given the Barça legend turns 38 on Tuesday. The match was a slow-burner, but exploded into life in the second half. Inter Miami found itself a goal down at the break, courtesy of an early penalty from Porto's Samu Aghehowa. After the spot kick was converted, Messi's reaction from near the center circle was to keep his hand firmly on his hip and not move a muscle for a good 10 seconds in a manner which suggested: 'This wasn't the plan.' Perhaps, then, it was Porto which didn't plan on Inter Miami's rapid response. Just two minutes into the second half, Telasco Segovia's smart finish flew past goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos to level the score, and seven minutes later, Messi stepped up. In every way. A free kick on the edge of the box, which the Argentine star won, brought the crowd to the edge of their seats. A sense of inevitability hung in the air as the maestro marked his territory and figured out the exact angle to place a whipped shot into the corner of the net. You almost had to feel for Ramos, who couldn't lay a glove on either strike. The goal was a thing of beauty, as we have been treated to so frequently over the years, with Portuguese defender José Fonte lauding Messi on the DAZN broadcast: 'Touched by God, isn't he? Incredible. What a player.' The stunner ended up not just being the match winner but resulted in the first time a team from the CONCACAF region has defeated a European side in a competitive fixture. It was Messi's 50th goal for the team as well. Not too shabby for a Thursday afternoon in the middle of June. A point in the final group game against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras next Monday will guarantee Inter Miami's place in the knockout phase. Cutting through the noise and one wonders what the powers at be in FIFA make of it all. The sport's governing body essentially fast-tracked Inter Miami into the 32-team tournament, not by virtue of winning the MLS Cup, but rather the regular season Supporters' Shield, which may have come with a trophy, but is ultimately a pathway into the postseason. Messi and Miami were shockingly bounced last year in a best-of-three playoff series by the team which can normally be found playing at this stunning 70,000-capacity stadium, Atlanta United, with the MLS Cup eventually hoisted aloft by LA Galaxy. But the Seattle Sounders and LAFC completed the contingent of the three MLS sides in the Club World Cup, leaving the Galaxy on the outside looking in, gazing enviously at the brightest star of them all. And with the Club World Cup finally finding its feet, thanks to Messi's left foot resulting in one of the tournament's first signature moments, the reality remains that he is what has drawn the crowds here on Thursday, and last Saturday to boot, with the opening game of the tournament attracting over 60,000 fans to Hard Rock Stadium in Messi's American base of Miami. Inter Miami is a relatively new MLS franchise, with co-owner David Beckham – who may have felt a modicum of sympathy for his former club, the LA Galaxy, not getting an invite to FIFA's party – the original reason for this franchise gaining relevance in 2018. Whether the Club World Cup – which is set to take place every four years, the same cycle as the slightly more established FIFA World Cup, which will be 96 years old next summer – can grow in stature remains to be seen. In the here and now, Messi and Messi alone is on the mind of everyone fortunate enough to witness him in action. And that extends to the players as well. When CNN Sports speaks with Messi's teammate Fafà Picault after the match, the three words the winger associates with the soccer superstar are 'leader, winner, and winner again,' before noting, 'Sometimes, it's not always said with words but just with signals and body actions, so we try to read off of that. Obviously, we have conversations behind doors, but there's a lot more than just talking that can show signs of leadership.' And on Thursday, Lionel Messi's actions spoke far louder than words.
