On December 5, football fans around the globe will eagerly tune in as the draw for the inaugural 32-club FIFA Club World Cup takes place in Miami.
This highly anticipated event will unveil the group stage opponents for the world’s elite football clubs, setting the stage for an exciting tournament.
The Scheduled to begin at 18:00 GMT, the draw will organize the eight groups of four teams each, who will battle it out in the United States from June 15 to July 13.
In a thrilling announcement, FIFA president Gianni Infantino revealed that the competition will kick off with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami taking the field at the iconic Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, on June 15.
FIFA is gearing up for a revamped tournament that will take place every four years, although the host nation for the 2029 edition remains unannounced.
This new structure will allow the top 16 clubs from the group stage those that secure the top two spots to progress to the knockout rounds, ultimately leading to the final match, while the traditional third-place playoff will be eliminated.
The previous version of the Club World Cup included seven teams, but the new format will expand participation to a remarkable 32 clubs, featuring giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich.
Despite the excitement surrounding this expansion, it has drawn criticism for potentially overburdening players, and FIFA has yet to disclose any broadcasting deals for the upcoming tournament.
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