Football fans invading Bondi beach? Hosting the Club World Cup would do wonders for the game in Australia
The sight of thousands of Boca Juniors fans pouring onto the pristine Miami beach ahead of their Fifa Club World Cup opener against Benfica last week quickly went viral, with the white sands colloquially becoming known as 'Boca beach'.
While the grand old Argentine club exited the tournament prematurely after a shock 1-1 draw with Auckland City's collection of part-timers earlier this week, could Sydney's world famous Bondi beach be next in line for the Boca treatment?
It's a dream that could become reality should Football Australia get their way and host the next edition of club football's new showpiece tournament.
Former CEO James Johnson initially flagged FA's interest in hosting the tournament in 2023, when it was little more than a concept in Gianni Infantino's mind, and rightly identified it as a huge growth opportunity for the game and positioning Australia at the front of the queue of nations looking to host come 2029.
Amid speculation at the time of a bid for the 2034 World Cup, which ultimately went to Saudi Arabia uncontested, when announcing their decision not to bid for that tournament Football Australia said it was 'ambitious to bring more major tournaments to our shores', including the Women's Asian Cup in 2026, and then the 2029 Club World Cup.
Having since successfully secured the hosting rights for next year's Women's Asian Cup, which will take place in Sydney, Gold Coast and Perth next March, attention will soon shift to securing the Club World Cup. It would complete what FA are calling a 'golden decade' for football which kicked off with the Women's World Cup in 2023and will end with in Brisbane with the 2032 Olympic Games.
At this stage the next Club World Cup is scheduled for 2029 but speculation is rife that Fifa will change the cycle of their newly minted tournament from every four years to every two, potentially bringing the next tournament forward to 2027.
FA said this week that it remains interested and is keen to secure hosting rights to more tournaments. 'The Fifa Club World Cup tournament in the United States has been a thrilling competition, bringing some of the world's great clubs together, and demonstrating the global reach and power of football,' a spokesperson told Guardian Australia.
'The Fifa Women's World Cup 2023 demonstrated Australia's capability to host major global football tournaments of the highest quality. Football Australia is always looking at further opportunities to host major events, such as next year's AFC Women's Asian Cup, and will explore other potential opportunities as details of bidding processes become known.'
As tens of thousands of fans from all around the world have flocked to North America for this year's tournament, particularly from South America, North Africa and Asia, eyes around the world have been opened to the potential of this competition – even with this one that is missing the pulling power of Liverpool, Arsenal or Barcelona.
While some games have been less attractive than others – the match between South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns and South Korea's Ulsan HD attracted just 3,412 fans and some games have struggled to fill even smaller capacity MLS stadiums – others have shown what is possible when bringing together tribal fan bases from around the world.
Sign up to Football Daily
Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football
after newsletter promotion
Boca fans have turned stadiums into mini versions of their famed Bombonera, fans of Morocco's Wydad Casablanca produced impressive flare and smoke displays, while there was a sea of pink in Miami as Lionel Messi inspired his Inter Miami side into the knockout rounds. Brazil's Flamengo showed the strength of their support in the Americas, and even supporters of Japan's Urawa Reds travelled in their thousands with colourful tifos and full-throated support.
While there was, and remains, scepticism from Europe as to the bonafides of the tournament and several kinks to be ironed out, increasingly there is a feeling it has been a great showcase of the strength of the club game around the world outside of the European stranglehold.
It is why Australia will face stiff competition to host the next edition of the tournament, with America keen to go again to embed the gains made in this tournament, while two of the co-hosts for the 2030 World Cup, Spain and Morocco, have separately put their hands up. So too Brazil.
The logistics of Australia hosting a month-long tournament in June and July, and the complications of stadium availability in the middle of AFL and NRL seasons, would need to be carefully considered, but there is little doubt that hosting the tournament would do wonders for football in Australia – not least because the host nation is guaranteed one spot, meaning at least one A-League club would take part and walk away with a minimum of $15m in prize money.
Whether it be Boca fans taking over Bondi, Flamengo fans occupying Federation Square or Europe's elite arriving en masse, the thought of the world's best taking over Australian cities and stadiums is a mouthwatering one.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Is there a third place play-off at the Club World Cup 2025?
The Club World Cup has entered the knockout phase as the remaining 16 teams turn their attention towards the final and a huge cash prize. The expanded 32-team tournament has not been short of surprises in the group stages, with several upsets and impressive results from some of the competitions lesser-known sides. Atletico Madrid have been sent packing in the group stages after Diego Simeone's side finished third behind the Brazilian Botafogo in Group B. Elsewhere, both Bayern Munich and Chelsea failed to top their respective groups after surprise losses to Benfica and Flamengo respectively. Enzo Maresca's side will take on Benfica in the round of 16, while the other Premier League side, Manchester City, will play Al-Hilal on June 30. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Both clubs are on the same side of the draw and could meet in the semi-finals of the tournament. And while the victor of that potential semi-final would progress to the final, what happens with the losers? Let's find out. No, there is not a third-place play-off at the Club World Cup 2025. Given concerns over player welfare and the added demands of an expanded Club World Cup, it is perhaps no surprise that FIFA decided to do without a third place play-off for this tournament. After the semi-final stage, the competition will therefore just finish with the final on Sunday 13th July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. On the other side of the knockout bracket, Lionel Messi will face his former club as Inter Miami will play Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16. More Trending Bayern Munich will meet Flamengo, who finished top of Group D ahead of Chelsea. Borussia Dortmund will play Mexican side Monterrey, while Real Madrid will meet Juventus. The quarter-finals are set to take place on July 4 and 5, with the two semi-finals taking place on July 8 and 9 ahead of Sunday's final. Group stage win: £1.4million Group stage draw: £739,000 Round of 16: £5.5million Quarter-final: £9.6million Semi-final: £15.5million Final: £22.1million Winners: £29.5million For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Enzo Maresca sends transfer message to Chelsea defender and confirms two clubs 'like him' MORE: Chelsea star could push for transfer after Arsenal and PSG interest MORE: Dortmund interested in £35m Chelsea star as Jamie Gittens transfer gets closer
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Forward Simic joins German side Karlsruher on loan
Cardiff City have allowed forward Roko Simic to join Bundesliga 2 team Karlsruher SC on loan for the 2025-26 21-year-old Italian signed for the Bluebirds in August 2024 and has yet to make his competitive debut for Cardiff, spending part of last season on loan at Kortrijk in Belgium.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
Lions v Western Force live: score, commentary, updates from Perth
Speaking to Sky Sports, British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell said: '[We want] a little bit more cohesion. We take the good out of the game [against Argentina] as well and we looked dangerous at times but we made too many errors. 'If you are not excited and don't have some nerves you're probably in the wrong jersey. But the payers are calm and hopefully come kick-off, they will be ready.' Half an hour to go until kick-off in Perth. There are five players in the starting line-up who will make their Lions debut today: Dan Sheehan, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier. Will Kelleher, in Perth Finn Russell is looking suitably chilled, going through his usual 'Maradona Seven' style keepy-uppy routine. What shall we call it, the Russell Round? Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Will Kelleher, in Perth I think the pitch could cause some issues here. One of the Lions coaches told us he was a little concerned about it cutting up yesterday, particularly around scrums. It's very sandy, and from up in the stands it looks quite patchy. Hopefully the set-pieces stay steady. For the Ashes Test here in November they will drop in the wicket to the middle of this rugby field. The wickets sit in a 'nursery' growing outside the stadium bowl, and are dropped in in a process that takes three hours. Apparently each wicket weighs 25 tonnes, and No3 of the five is the groundsman's favourite. It is grown from the same clay and turf as the old WACA ground down the road, which is famed for its pace and bounce. The Lions will hope there is no chin music from the Force today! Stephen Jones, in Perth I've attended the first match on all 11 tours, and I'd say the number of Lions fans here easily triples that of any other group. Many staying at our hotel are signed up for the entire tour. It's a great mix of people— all ages and all backgrounds. Alex Lowe, in Perth They are expecting a crowd in excess of 40,000 at the Optus Stadium, most of them wearing red. There are a lot of ex-pats living in Perth and a decent number of fans doing the full tour. It really feels like this is the proper start of the Lions tour, reinforcing my belief that the Lions should not have held that game against Argentina in Dublin. They did it as a naked money grab. Every time they play at home it erodes the mystique of a team whose reputation and history — the very thing the Lions trade on so ferociously — is eroded. Now the Lions are on tour and there are fewer better things in sport that the sight of this unique team taking the field on the road to a Test series against the Wallabies. Six current Australia players are included in the side facing the Lions today in Perth. Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Nic White, Dylan Pietsch and Ben Donaldson are all in, and will link up with the Wallabies on Sunday. Donaldson's inclusion comes after Kurtley Beale was ruled out having suffered a hamstring strain in training on Tuesday. Will Kelleher, in Perth The Lions bus is ensconced in the Optus, where outside the Force mascot is parading around for photos. I tried to ask him what sort of bird he was but he said 'not sure..!' Out here in Perth, Andy Farrell is on tour, tracksuit on, working with the players, ad-libbing on the training field, preparing for games that will come thick and fast. On Wednesday evening, three days before the Lions play Western Force in Perth, the coaches held their first planning meeting for the midweek Queensland Reds game. 'We are into it,' Farrell says. 'When the Lions tour gets going, when we get down to the Tests, to the business end, it will be the most important thing in world sport by a country mile, whatever is going on. It will. That is just fact. I mean, why wouldn't you want to be involved in something like that?' • Read Alex Lowe's full interview Alex Lowe, in Perth Breaking news from Perth: Nick Dolly, the one-cap England hooker whose quest to represent the Australian half of his family by playing for the Wallabies, has dropped off the Western Force bench. I presume he's injured. But still give Will Kelleher's piece a read. I think Dolly was probably slightly misunderstood when he came into the England camp. He was seen as a fair dinkum Aussie — probably due to his haircut — and another overseas player wanting an England cap. He never told his story as he has done to Will. Whether a personal memory of KFC in the hotel or glory in a Test match, British & Irish Lions legends from Willie John McBride to Matt Dawson share their best moments and players in the red jersey. • Read in full The second row's stagnated career has reignited, with his lineout skills coming to the fore in Western Australia. The Force have developed a handy habit of stealing lineouts in Super Rugby, with Swain prominent. The Lions scrummaged superbly against Argentina but their lineout was poor, losing five of their own throws. Swain and his colleagues will target the touring side at this set piece. It's a challenge for the Lions but a great opportunity for individuals to — quite literally — jump into contention for the Tests. The Force finished ninth of 11 in Super Rugby but their lineout statistics were outstanding, with the Australian lock back to his best since moving west. It is a game everyone expects the Lions to win but the magnifying glasses will be well and truly aimed at the lineout. • Read Stuart Barnes's column on six Wallabies to watch out for on tour 2021: On the tour of South Africa four years ago, Warren Gatland's side began in Johannesburg with a 56-14 win over the Lions. Four tries from Josh Adams on the day was the highlight. 2017: The first provincial game in New Zealand did not go as well for the British & Irish Lions in Auckland, losing 22-16 to the Blues. Tries from Sonny Bill Williams, Ihiaia West and a 20 year old Rieko Ioane were enough to secure the win. 2013: On their previous visit to Australia, the Lions began with an impressive 69-17 thumping of Western Force, the same side they face today. Eight different tryscorers were on the scoresheet in Perth that day, with Brian O'Driscoll grabbing a brace Where is Maro Itoje? The British & Irish Lions will launch their Australia tour against Western Force without their captain. Dan Sheehan will lead the side from hooker on his first Lions appearance, with Scott Cummings and Joe McCarthy forming a power-packed second-row partnership. The Lions insist that Itoje, who was replaced ten minutes from the end of the defeat by Argentina last Friday, is fit for selection and that Andy Farrell has a plan for these opening three tour matches. It is important for squad unity and morale that every player gets a start, if possible. This has long been the standard approach of Lions coaches. Read Alex Lowe's column Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Playing a midweek game for the Lions is a huge honour — and it is certainly more important than playing a summer Test for your country — but the truth is that everyone is hoping they are not picked in those midweek games, simply because you know what it means. Very early on that might be different as there will be some mix-and-match selections, but very quickly the Test side is taking shape and that side will be playing on the Saturdays. Everybody wants to be a Test Lion. • Read Sam Warburton's full column here Elgan Alderman, somewhere between Lille and Amiens En route to Paris on the Eurostar for tonight's Top 14 final, where Blair Kinghorn (the final Lion to arrive) and Jack Willis's Toulouse are in search of a third successive title, against the Double-chasing Union Bordeaux Bègles. I made sure to travel early enough to be on land for the opening Lions tour game. Full steam ahead to The Moose. It was not guaranteed that our favourite rugby haunts would show the fixture. The Tests will be on mainstream French channels, though the tour games appear not to be as visible. There has been a lot of talk about the Lions touring France (even I have succumbed, sketching out how I would do it, without quite advocating it), but I do always wonder: would France actually care? • Bitter rivals Bordeaux stand in way of Toulouse's historic triplé bid • Lions Tour of France would set heart racing — here's how it could look If Dan Sheehan becomes a Test starter for the British & Irish Lions this summer in Australia he will have the backyards of Bucharest to thank for making him the player he is. It was in Romania that Sheehan — now the Leinster and Ireland hooker, and favourite to start for the Lions — played his games as a kid. Baseball, swimming, golf, basketball, volleyball, badminton; whatever it was, Sheehan and his brother Bobby tried it. 'That definitely impacted my skill set and being comfortable doing anything,' Sheehan says. 'My parents were big on just giving anything a lash.' • Read Will Kelleher's full interview with Sheehan in Perth Andy Farrell has told Henry Pollock that he has free licence to celebrate and be himself on his first start for the British & Irish Lions. Pollock, the 20-year-old sensation of this season, will wear No8 against Western Force in Perth on Saturday. He comes into the starting team as one of 13 changes from the Lions' 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin last Friday. Farrell's side for their first match on Australian soil is led by Dan Sheehan, the 26-year-old Irish hooker, who captains the Lions on his debut for the touring side. Only Tadhg Beirne and Sione Tuipulotu keep their starting places from the Argentina match. Hello and welcome to our coverage of the Lions' fixture against Western Force. Andy Farrell's side will want to bounce back after losing to Argentina last week in Dublin. Times rugby writers Will Kelleher and Alex Lowe will be bringing you all the insight from Perth.
