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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Big teams and bigger surprises - recap of group stage
AP Photo As the 21st edition of the FIFA Club World Cup moves towards the Round of 16, the competition's facelift has provided multiple storylines. From the number of teams participating to a newly designed trophy, more venues and even a referee cam, the competition in the United States has gone closer to its namesake - the quadrennial World Cup. The organisers have called it "a celebration of hope, excellence and pride, embodying the journey of every club, player and fan united in their passion for the beautiful game." With several new debutants and the tournament now being a month-long event, the competition has changed in stature. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Now, teams from all six confederations - 12 teams from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 from Africa, 4 from Asia, 4 from North, Central America and Caribbean, 1 from Oceania, and 1 team from the host nation complete the 2025 line-up. With the group stage done and dusted and just 16 teams left in the running, it is fair to say that this edition of the Club World Cup has had its fair share of upsets, David vs Goliath matchups and some heated moments, literally and figuratively. Auckland City hold their ground in a historic result Ranked 4,971st in the Opta Power Rankings, Auckland City went in as the lowest ranked side in the Club World Cup. They were grouped alongside Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Emergency Generators in Pakigne: (Prices May Surprise You) Emergency Generator | Search Ads Search Now Undo To put things into context, Auckland City are made up of amateurs, play in the Northern League in New Zealand, comprising just 12 teams. Auckland suffered a brutal 0-10 loss against Bayern Munich to start with - the biggest defeat in this year's tournament - which was followed by a 0-6 thumping from Benfica. Already eliminated and with nothing to lose, Auckland faced Argentinian giants Boca Juniors in their last game. In what can only be described as a David-Goliath matchup, the underdogs denied Boca a spot in the Round of 16, who were in need of a win to progress. A difference of 4,819 ranking points and Boca's historical success made the 1-1 draw all the more sweet for the amateurs. Messi and Miami power through to the Round of 16 Grouped alongside giants Porto, Al Ahly and Palmeiras, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami were expected to be swept aside. Instead, the Argentine No 10, supported by Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, powered through to the Round of 16, after finishing second in Group A. While the Herons could only pick up one win, it was enough to qualify. After a stalemate against Al Ahly in the tournament opener, Miami were up against Portuguese giants Porto. In what seemed like a difficult task for Miami, Messi's timeless brilliance, exemplified by a stunning free kick, earned them a 2-1 win. Miami drew their final game 2-2 against Brazil's Palmeiras, and confirmed their berth in the last 16. A 'heated' Club World Cup Tensions boiled over on the final matchday in Group E, where River Plate needed a win to make it to the last 16. Inter, however, denied them that pleasure. At the full-time whistle, River's Marcos Acuna and Inter's Denzel Dumfries nearly came to blows, needing an entire team and support staff to intervene. The feud, which first began three years ago, saw Argentina's Acuna show Netherlands' Dumfries the 2022 World Cup trophy logo on his shin guard. At the tournament, Argentina had beaten Netherlands in a heated quarter-final which finished on penalties. Heated moments weren't restricted to the players, as heatwaves and extreme temperatures saw teams give their players ice baths and cold towels. Borussia Dortmund went a step further, making their substitutes watch the game against Mamelodi Sundowns from the locker room and not from the bench to protect them from the blistering heat. Their coach likened the playing conditions to that of a 'sauna'. Thunderstorms and lightning also resulted in at least five games being delayed. But it isn't just ice packs, but ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) who have been a presence at the tournament, making it the first to do so. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will also be a part of the tournament's setup, with non-citizens needing proof of legal status to attend games. Concerns for the upcoming World Cup? With less than a year to go for the 2026 FIFA World Cup , set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, its precursor has revealed several issues. From pitch quality, to heat and weather in general, the tournament hasn't been a smooth one to say the least. Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham called out the poor pitch conditions, saying "The pitches aren't great here. The pitches aren't great at all," said the 21-year-old after his side's match against Pachuca at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. 'New' tournament, same old favourites Besides the underdog stories, major upsets and more teams, the tournament still remains a hunting ground for Europe's best. Giants like Real Madrid and Manchester City still remain favourites to win the prize. Five teams from the eight groups - Seattle Sounders, Urawa Reds, Ulsan, Wydad AC and Pachuca - were eliminated without a single point. List of qualified teams for Round of 16 Group A: Palmeiras, Inter Miami Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Botafogo Group C: Bayern Munich, Benfica Group D: Flamengo, Chelsea Group E: Inter Milan, Monterrey Group F: Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense Group G: Manchester City, Juventus Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Club World Cup prize money rankings: How much has each team earned so far?
Forty-eight games down, 15 to go. FIFA's new, engorged Club World Cup has completed its group stage, 16 clubs are on their way home and, over the next fortnight, the remaining 16 will tussle to lift a trophy so gaudy even Louis XIV might have turned his nose up at it. Alongside that (notably heavy) trinket, whoever runs out victorious in East Rutherford in mid-July will also bank themselves a hefty cash prize. The winners of this summer's tournament will earn a further $74.1million (£54m), including $40m from the final alone, on top of what they have already pocketed from the competition — and much of FIFA's $1billion prize pot has now been allocated. Advertisement Even before the round of 16 begins, we already know where nearly three-quarters of the money will go: $525m in participation fees were doled out before a ball was kicked and, since then, the results of 48 group games and the identification of 16 progressing teams (who each earned $7.5m for doing so) means a further $216m in performance-related prize money has also been apportioned. A look at the prize money leaders throws up some familiar (some might say obvious) names. Sitting at the top are Manchester City, the only club to exceed $50m so far. Behind them are some of the wealthiest clubs in world football: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and on it goes. While the general theme of European clubs hoovering up much of the bounty is true, there is a caveat to the order of things. Upon announcing how it would distribute the prize pot, FIFA provided participation fee figures for UEFA's qualifying clubs, but not the amounts each of the 12 clubs would get. UEFA clubs qualified either by winning the Champions League between 2020-21 and 2023-24 or through their coefficient ranking over the same period. Participation fees for European clubs in the Club World Cup were "determined by a ranking based on sporting and commercial criteria", according to FIFA. To work out the prize money rankings, we've assumed clubs were ordered by their coefficient ranking, although FIFA's inclusion of "commercial criteria" means our figures might not be exactly right. The Athletic has not been able to establish the exact allocation of participation fees to UEFA clubs. Regardless of the order, it's fairly clear European sides will be taking home most of the spoils. The top eight prize money spots are occupied by European clubs and of the $741m allocated, $424.5m (57 per cent) has gone to UEFA clubs. On average, the 12 competing clubs from football's richest continent have earned $35.4m apiece this summer. Behind them, CONMEBOL's South American teams have picked up an average of $23.9m each, as Brazil's four competing teams lost just one of their 12 group games and all four qualified for the knockout rounds. The failure of the Argentinian sides to do the same, however, brought CONMEBOL's average down. The distribution of participation fees ensured Europe's clubs would always get the biggest slice of the prize. It speaks volumes that Porto and Atletico Madrid were knocked out at the group stage but have earned more than Al Hilal, Inter Miami and Monterrey, who have reached the last 16. Yet between them, the six CONMEBOL teams have banked $143.3m, just under a fifth of the prize pot distributed so far. The remaining four confederations have earned $173.2m combined. The five Concacaf clubs' earnings total $71.8m, even as Pachuca and Seattle Sounders, who both lost all three of their group games, failed to build on their $9.6m in participation fees. Of the three MLS teams competing, only Inter Miami remain, having generated $21.1m before Sunday's meeting with Paris Saint-Germain. In theory, Miami, Seattle and Los Angeles FC each get to enjoy their respective sums, with the prize money remaining in club hands rather than going into a central MLS pot. Less clear is where it will go next. A dispute between MLS, acting on the three clubs' behalf, and the MLS Players Association over player bonuses — subject to a cap that the money from the Club World Cup far exceeds — remains ongoing. Returning to those Brazilian clubs, this summer's tournament has offered quite the boon to at least two of them. Flamengo and Palmeiras already lead the revenue stakes back home, but based on the most recent figures, fellow Club World Cup participants Fluminense and Botafogo were sixth and eighth among their domestic rivals. Each of them has earned $26.7m, a huge proportion of their usual revenues. For Fluminense, it's over a third of their $74m turnover in 2024. For Botafogo, the boost is even higher; their prize money from the last fortnight is almost half of the $55m they generated across the whole of 2023 (they are yet to publish 2024 financials). Get past their respective hurdles of Serie A side Inter and domestic rivals Palmeiras, and each will bank a further $13.1m, as will anyone else who makes the quarter-finals. A huge amount of money has already been divvied up across this summer's 32 Club World Cup teams, but there's plenty left to play for. A further $259m will be allocated between now and the competition's end on July 13.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Club World Cup: What our reporters made of the group stage – and what could happen next
With the group stages of the FIFA Club World Cup over, it's a good time to catch our breath and take stock. From the searing heat and dodgy pitches, to the major shocks and stars of the future (both in the dugout and on the pitch). The Athletic asked our reporters covering the tournament to give their assessment of the group stages in the United States and what they want to see in the knockout rounds… Jack Lang: I was really impressed by Flamengo. They are top of Brazil's Serie A but they only just made it out of their Copa Libertadores group in May, so it was slightly surprising to see them play with conviction and swagger. They just have some lovely players to watch, including Gerson, Gonzalo Plata and Giorgian de Arrascaeta. Advertisement Adam Crafton: I am not sure they are necessarily the best team — so I am not strictly answering the question here — but the team that has impressed me the most have been Flamengo. Their win over Chelsea was one of the most exhilarating games of the tournament. The next round against Bayern Munich may be a test too far but Flamengo should push them hard in the Miami heat. Jeff Rueter: The draw gave Manchester City only one real test in a group without a South American foe. They comfortably dispatched Juventus, with the old guard (Erling Haaland and Rodri, above all) doing their bit and fresh faces making a swift impact in a 5-2 win. The only team to win all three of their group games is a worthy front-runner. Liam Twomey: This depends on your criteria, but UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain came into this tournament as the presumptive best team and promptly produced the most impressive win of the group stage, dismantling Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the sweltering heat of the Rose Bowl. Defeat against Botafogo dented their aura of invincibility but that game had many of the hallmarks of a freak result. It will take a great performance — probably from a great team — to beat them. Mario Cortegana: Despite Manchester City being the only team to take nine points out of nine, I would still rate PSG above them and the rest of the main contenders. Their win against Atletico was impressive. By the end of the tournament, the defeat against Botafogo will be remembered as a brief blip. Jordan Campbell: It was difficult to read too much into games against Wydad and Al Ain, but Manchester City rediscovered their mojo against Juventus. It was the dominance we were used to seeing under Guardiola for years but there were doubts that he would find a recipe to produce similar form at this tournament. With Ruben Dias and Rodri back, City played with reassurance and the forward players clicked as a result. If they play like that again, only PSG can live with them. Advertisement Felipe Cardenas: Difficult to disagree with Jordan. Manchester City are improving and look as if they are out to prove something. I have been very impressed by all four Brazilian clubs because they have shown an ability to adapt to different opponents and tactics. However, PSG are the European champions and Luis Enrique's men are a ticking time bomb of attacking football. They've been coasting here. PSG are the best team in the world. James Horncastle: I don't know if they were the best team, but Botafogo's win against PSG was a big moment. The South American champions beat the European champions. Owner John Textor's spontaneous interview afterwards, in which he shouted, 'VICTOIRE! VICTOIRE!' was fun and pyrrhic. Much was made of his beef with Nasser Al-Khelaifi, so it was quite the comedown when he returned to France and witnessed another of his clubs, Lyon, have their relegation confirmed following a review of their financial situation. Jack Lang: Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Igor Jesus (Botafogo) and Jorginho (Flamengo) all deserve a mention but I'm going to go a bit more niche here and pick Nelson Deossa of Monterrey. Full disclosure: I had never heard of him before the start of the tournament, but he caught my eye with a brilliant, all-action midfield display in the draw against Inter in Pasadena, then scored a fantastic goal against Urawa Red Diamonds. He's tall, leggy, unconventional and clearly very talented. Adam Crafton: Is Phil Foden BACK? With the World Cup 12 months away, his improvement in form can only be good news for club and country. He has scored twice but only started once, so maybe we shouldn't really consider him the best player in the group stages. Honourable mentions: Jhon Arias, whose free kick for Fluminense was my favourite goal of the groups, and I am curious to see whether any of the many teams who crave a No 9 take a gamble on Wessam Abou Ali, the 26-year-old Palestinian forward who scored a hat-trick for Al Ahly against Porto in the 4-4 draw. He failed to make an impact in Denmark at the start of his career but for one game on a pretty big stage, he looked a world-beater. Jeff Rueter: Monterrey fans should shudder at the thought of trying to go through their group without Esteban Andrada. The 34-year-old Argentine goalkeeper wasn't overworked, as Rayados' defensive shape only gave him 10 shots on target to deal with across the three contests, but his stops were crucial. His close-range block from Sebastiano Esposito helped secure a point against Inter, he made six important saves in a scoreless draw with River Plate, and there were another couple of stops as Monterrey finally notched a win against Urawa Red Diamonds. Borussia Dortmund's forwards will need to pick their spot with real precision in the next round. Advertisement Liam Twomey: Jorginho. He only completed his move to Flamengo 10 days before their Club World Cup opener but looks as if he has been playing at the heart of their midfield for years. Every team he represents seems to immediately take on his style in possession. It is also fun to see him finally star for a Brazilian club. Mario Cortegana: In the absence of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has confirmed that he can lead a Champions League-winning side, as evidenced by his goal and two assists. PSG are one of the few clubs who can make a €70million (£60m; $82m) signing midway through the season but the Georgian's performances have been spectacular. Jordan Campbell: Tijjani Reijnders has been a Rolls-Royce in midfield for Manchester City, Bayern's Olise has been effortlessly clinical and Fluminense winger Arias was impressive in the opener against Dortmund, but Flamengo captain Giorgian de Arrascaeta is a wonderfully imaginative player. He is technically brilliant and always looks to play forward. The attacking midfielder might be sacrificed as a starter against Bayern but don't bet against him making a decisive contribution at some stage. Felipe Cardenas: Is Arias a midfielder or a second striker? Perhaps he's a winger. The Colombia international is Fluminense's do-everything player and he has excelled at this tournament. He was by far the best player on the pitch against Dortmund and has carried that level of performance through the remaining group matches. Take a look at his free kick against Ulsan. Arias is understated but he can do it all. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GOAL BY ARIAS! 😱@FluminenseFC is up 1-0! Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 21, 2025 James Horncastle: I enjoyed watching Miguel Merentiel for Boca. At 29, he isn't going to be the next big thing. He isn't even the biggest name Uruguayan on the team; Edinson Cavani is and he has been underwhelming this past year. Merentiel, an underdog player for whom it's hard not to root, has picked up the slack. He scored in Boca's first couple of games and his goal against Benfica was one of the best of the tournament. Jack Lang: From the teams I have seen live, it's the River Plate supporters. They were incredibly loud and animated throughout the 0-0 draw with Monterrey at the Rose Bowl and it was a similar story in Seattle on Wednesday. Botafogo deserve an honourable mention, as do Monterrey, whose club anthem is still playing in my head. Adam Crafton: I absolutely loved my journey to the MetLife Stadium with Palmeiras fans, who, after painting Times Square green and white, then descended onto the trains and buses, singing and dancing their way towards the venue. Some were part of the Brazilian diaspora who live in the New York area, others had saved up and made it a trip of a lifetime. When you spend time with those fans, and see the joy and the passion etched across their faces, it feels faintly ridiculous to see anyone declaring this is a pointless tournament that nobody cares about. Advertisement Jeff Rueter: The opening weekend gave a mixed first impression, with some stale atmospheres and Bayern's 10-0 pasting of poor Auckland City giving little reason for neutrals to buy into the tournament. Once Boca Juniors' support took to their temporary home at the Hard Rock Stadium, the spectacle provided sorely needed enthusiasm and legitimacy for what this Club World Cup could mean to fanbases. How cruel that their team couldn't give a worthy trio of performances to reward their support. Liam Twomey: With a word of praise for the ES Tunis supporters who brought songs and joy to Philadelphia, it has to be the thousands of Flamengo fans who turned the parking lots outside Lincoln Financial Field into a carnival of Brazilian barbecue tailgate parties, and the stadium itself into a cauldron of noise that helped overwhelm Chelsea. Mario Cortegana: I have only been to Real Madrid matches, where the Madridistas have been in the vast majority, with a special mention for the decibel levels they reached in Philadelphia in the 3-0 win against Red Bull Salzburg. From what I've seen on television, I was impressed by the intensity of Boca and River fanbases, and the fans of all the South American teams. Jordan Campbell: Wydad's fans brought a big presence to Philadelphia, especially considering they had travelled from Morocco. They had plenty of fan meet-ups in the squares around the city but for sheer numbers and noise, Flamengo have been the best I've seen. The looks they gave an American employee's patronising attempt to gee up the crowd outside the stadium in Orlando (three hours before a dead rubber kicked off) will live long in the memory. Felipe Cardenas: Due to sheer numbers and commitment, Boca's ultras and travelling band of die-hard fans lit up the tournament. Palmeiras fans were great in Miami, too. They made the match against Inter Miami feel like a proper cup tie. Big shout for Al Ahly supporters, too. James Horncastle: Having written about Boca storming Miami Beach, I'd be a hypocrite to go with anyone else. I liked how River fans paid for a plane to fly over the Boca fan gathering to remind them of losing the Copa Libertadores final in 2018 and the Boca fan who went to a River game just to stir things up. Jack Lang: This may be a slightly dull answer, but I still find it hard to look past PSG. They are just such a good team and have — apart from a listless first half against Botafogo — looked motivated to build upon their Champions League success. I'll also be keeping an eye on Flamengo. Adam Crafton: I am leaning towards a Manchester City final against PSG, a new-money bonanza that will delight FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his merry band of influencer friends. PSG probably have been the best team in the world this year, but it would be an intriguing recovery by Pep Guardiola's team if they can navigate their way through it. City are certainly on the kinder side of the bracket. Advertisement Jeff Rueter: Entering the tournament, I'd predicted a final between Bayern Munich and Flamengo. Unfortunately, fate brings them together in the round of 16, as far from the final stage as possible. Whichever team advances from that clash will be my definitive favourite, but given Vincent Kompany's rotation for their final group game against Benfica, I'll give Bayern the narrowest of edges. Liam Twomey: At the risk of contradicting my earlier pick of PSG as the best team, Manchester City look ominous and have a real chance to build momentum on the weaker side of the bracket before they likely face whoever emerges from PSG, Bayern and Real Madrid. It would be great to see Flamengo make it but their path appears too difficult. Mario Cortegana: I see a final between PSG and Manchester City, with PSG eliminating Real Madrid in the semi-finals. I was tempted to go with a Champions League final re-match, but City's improvement puts them ahead of Inter. Jordan Campbell: Man City to beat PSG or Flamengo in the final. I can't see Al Hilal or Inter/Fluminense containing City if they can continue the form they showed against Juventus, nor can I see anyone living with PSG on the other side of the draw. Felipe Cardenas: PSG-Man City in the final. An all-Brazilian final would be great for South America's claim that they have the best football in the world but expect the top European sides to buckle down in the knockouts. James Horncastle: I like the side of the draw with Botafogo-Palmeiras, Chelsea-Benfica, Inter-Fluminense and Man City-Al Hilal. It feels like the right half of the bracket to be on. From a Serie A angle, I'd like to see Al Hilal's Simone Inzaghi meet Inter in the quarters a few weeks after leaving as their head coach. I suspect it won't happen. More realistically, I agree it will likely be a PSG-City final. Jack Lang: Filipe Luis. His daring, technical Flamengo side have played some of the best football. He is also such an engaging character, willing to share his thoughts on any topic, in any one of three languages. People are already talking about him as one of the next great coaches, and I can see why. Advertisement Adam Crafton: I am still blown away by what Luis Enrique has done at PSG in an environment that appeared almost impossible, but he has successfully rebuilt a team in his image and they just seem to be getting better and better. Yes, there's a lot of money there, but also no little wit and intelligence. Jeff Rueter: Facing PSG in this tournament was never going to be a breeze, especially after their blowout of Atletico. Renato Paiva concocted a bold scheme that saw his Botafogo defend in an aggressively high line and limit PSG's space. He is a great post-game interview subject, too. Liam Twomey: I have to echo Jack's words on Filipe Luis, who is a more charismatic communicator in English than many Premier League coaches I've covered and has built a Flamengo team that always looks to play proactively. Their quality and intensity were far too much for Chelsea in Philadelphia and I expect them to give Bayern all they can handle. Mario Cortegana: I really like the names mentioned above, but in the spirit of being original and picking what I know best, we should highlight Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard took over a team adrift and, despite injuries and doubts after drawing 1-1 against Al Hilal in their opener, his Real Madrid is already showing what he promised: energy, dynamism, high pressing, tactical flexibility. Jordan Campbell: What Filipe Luis has created at Flamengo is a real testament to what having a clear coaching vision can do. But Inzaghi, having only taken over at Al Hilal after Inter's bruising Champions League final defeat, navigated a testing group to emerge undefeated with only one goal conceded. They could have beaten Real Madrid, too, had they been more clinical on the break. Felipe Cardenas: Filipe Luis felt like a wild hire when Flamengo gave him the top job. But in today's world, young coaches with little experience are popular picks for club and country. Look at Lionel Scaloni. The Argentinian changed the game and opened the door for guys like Filipe Luis. The 39-year-old — a former Brazil and Premier League left-back — has not looked overwhelmed on the big stage. James Horncastle: He has not been the best coach of the group stage by any means but Javier Mascherano deserves a little credit for getting Inter Miami into the knockouts. He probably owes this nomination to his goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari, who was awarded the man-of-the-match award in the goalless opener against Al Ahly. Advertisement Jack Lang: I went to five successive games at the Rose Bowl and will take home lots of good memories. OK, yes, it's a bit annoying to get to. But the setting — that lovely natural amphitheatre formed by the surrounding hills, the mountains in the distance — is incredible and it was great to be at a stadium with its own distinct architecture and history. Adam Crafton: They can all look a little strange on broadcast compared to European venues but a lot of the stadiums are spectacular in the flesh. The Hard Rock in Miami Gardens is a pain to get in and out of but decked out in Boca blue and yellow, it looked pretty special. However, nothing beats the Rose Bowl and it is a big shame it will not be involved at the World Cup next year. Jeff Rueter: Benefitting from the temperate climate, with many games kicking off in a downright delightful 75F (24C), Lumen Field has held some magnificent matches in Seattle. The Sounders fared admirably playing in front of their own fans in their usual park, and the grass got rave reviews from the venue's primary (soccer) tenant. Liam Twomey: I have only attended games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field, and the state-of-the-art home of Atlanta United never looks anything less than spectacular, even when it is as disappointingly empty as it was for Chelsea's opener against LAFC. Mario Cortegana: I've also been to the Hard Rock (Miami), the Bank of America (Charlotte), but I'll go with the Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia). Reasons? Take your pick: it is the home of the last Super Bowl winners, the temperature was nothing compared to the heat of the two matches I saw further south, the imposing interiors, the atmosphere, at times, had similarities to the Santiago Bernabeu and the thunderstorms thankfully didn't cause any delays to Real Madrid vs Salzburg. Jordan Campbell: I've been to Financial Lincoln Field in Philadelphia, Camping World Stadium in Orlando and Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta. Considering I'm a bit of a traditionalist and much prefer the character of red brick to the glass bowls that have become the norm, I was surprised by how stunning I found the Mercedes-Benz's design. It's an impressive piece of architecture but perhaps the best thing about it is the air conditioning system. Boy, did I need it. Felipe Cardenas: Air conditioning, easy public transportation and a stadium campus that features thousands of hotel rooms and enough pubs and restaurants to keep you busy for days. That's Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The food is cheap for fans and the environment is ideal for a big match. James Horncastle: I did multiple games at the parking lot otherwise known as the Hard Rock Stadium. I call it a parking lot because it has 26,000 spaces and no public transport. That said, you can understand why Super Bowls and Formula One races have been held in Miami Gardens. The only other ground I visited was the romantically named Camping World Stadium in Orlando. It felt more World Cup 1994 than Club World Cup 2025 and could use a birthday as well as a name change. No one dreams of playing at the Camping World. Advertisement Jack Lang: I hope that a club from outside Europe gets to the semi-final stage. It would provide a lot more interest than an ersatz version of the latter stages of the Champions League. A final four of, for instance, Chelsea, Palmeiras, PSG and Monterrey would be so much more intriguing than watching all the usual suspects again. Adam Crafton: I do not want to see tens of thousands of empty seats for the rest of the competition. It is a missed opportunity to engage more fans and is unnecessary — the interest is there in many markets to watch top-level soccer. What people have not always had is either the awareness or deep enough pockets, which means FIFA should reduce prices and fill these stadiums. It is hard to navigate the dynamic pricing, a strategy where the cost of tickets can fluctuate depending on demand. For example, when I looked at standard admission tickets for Flamengo vs Bayern (at Hard Rock) on Thursday morning, the cheapest was $170. By the evening, it was $83.65. Maybe this works out, but how these tickets fluctuate so wildly seems pretty wild. Jeff Rueter: I'll echo Jack's point: if this tournament quickly resolves to be a midsummer recreation of the UEFA Champions League, there will be little intrigue. I also hope security for the final at MetLife is better equipped than what we saw before and during last summer's Copa America final in Miami. Liam Twomey: There has been a lot of understandable cynicism and some less justifiable snootiness about this competition from some quarters, but the fundamental reality of football is that if the players take it seriously, everyone else will. I want to see the competitive juices ramp up the intensity in the knockout rounds, because the Champions League has demonstrated time and again that elite knockout club competition is the highest form of the sport. Mario Cortegana: Selfishly, I would say that Real Madrid should win, something that would do wonders for a squad and a project that has suffered this season and that wants to revive under Alonso. Looking a little beyond that, a team from outside Europe winning would be remembered for a long time and would enhance the value of future editions. Jordan Campbell: Flamengo getting to the final would be great for what has been a far more competitive and engaging spectacle than I expected. It is good that there is some variety in the knockouts, with Porto and Atletico already eliminated, but if City or PSG win the final, they probably need to beat some big European names along the way for it to be seen as a proper best-versus-best showpiece. It's a difficult balance but if Filipe Luis' men can cause another upset or two, the tournament might have the best of both worlds. Felipe Cardenas: We need a Cinderella story. The tournament needs an upset in the knockout rounds. I'm looking at you, Fluminense. James Horncastle: I don't know how I feel about the prospect of Inter Miami and Messi getting pummelled by PSG. It could get brutal. Top photos: Getty Images
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jude Bellingham & Arda Güler send online messages to Real Madrid teammate
Two members of the first-team ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid have this week forwarded public messages of well wishes to teammate David Alaba. This comes after the Austrian celebrated his latest birthday. Advertisement Defender Alaba is for his part currently in the midst of a fresh spell on the sidelines. This comes owing to a meniscus injury suffered in his left knee back in April, which has kept the former Bayern Munich man out of action ever since. On Tuesday, Alaba, in turn, was afforded a rare recent reason to celebrate, upon turning 33 years of age. And as alluded to above, keen to commemorate the occasion were two of the stopper's youngest teammates. Midfielder Jude Bellingham first took to Instagram to write: 'Happy birthday big bro! Legend' And as much was soon followed by a further IG post on the part of Arda Güler, who also unveiled a photo of he and Alaba, tagging his teammate alongside a series of birthday emojis: Conor Laird – GSFN
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool forward to STAY after dramatic transfer U-turn
Liverpool won't pay Diaz's demands But Liverpool seem reluctant to meet those demands. If Diaz is a little disappointed by that stance, it's perfectly understandable. After all, he scored 13 goals as the Reds won the Premier League title last season. He was a key figure under Arne Slot, despite his modest Liverpool career up to that point. Advertisement Barcelona, Bayern Munich and clubs in Saudi Arabia would all happily have Diaz - but Liverpool have been steadfast in their €80m valuation of the player. As such the market is quite restricted for Diaz unless Liverpool compromise on the fee. The latest report from Colombia also suggests that Diaz is, in fact, dismayed by Liverpool's stance over letting him leave. Diaz is annoyed at Liverpool Pipe Sierra, who regularly reports on Diaz and other Colombians in Europe, suggests that Diaz's entourage believe Liverpool haven't lived up to their promises. 'Luis Díaz and his camp are annoyed with Liverpool's stance,' Sierra wrote on X. 'They feel the club has gone back on their word (yet again with the player). Advertisement 'Something similar happened before with his contract renewal and now with the possibility of a transfer.' So what's changed? The journalist seems to be suggesting that Liverpool previously informed Diaz he would be free to leave this summer. But now it appears the club have told him he will be staying.
