Latest news with #CopaLibertadores
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Palmeiras and Botafogo set to rekindle heated rivalry on global stage
PHILADELPHIA: In a nation where bitter football feuds typically simmer across generations, Botafogo and Palmeiras are poised to add another chapter to Brazil's explosive new rivalry when they meet in the last 16 of the Club World Cup on Saturday. The feud, which erupted in 2023, has seen dramatic twists both on and off the pitch. Palmeiras, spearheaded by teenage sensation Endrick, overturned a three-goal deficit to defeat Botafogo 4-3, a result that triggered the Rio club's collapse in the Brazilian championship race. Palmeiras subsequently clinched the league title, sparking tensions that spilled into public exchanges between club officials. Palmeiras president Leila Pereira called Botafogo's owner John Textor "an idiot" and suggested he should be "banned from Brazilian football" after the American alleged referee bias in favor of Palmeiras. The rivalry defies Brazil's traditional city-based football feuds, with Palmeiras hailing from Sao Paulo and Botafogo from Rio de Janeiro. Unlike the century-old feuds of Flamengo-Fluminense or Atletico-Cruzeiro, this cross-country animosity has evolved into a pressure-cooker dynamic, with each encounter carrying heightened stakes. Botafogo exacted revenge in the 2024 Copa Libertadores, eliminating Palmeiras in the round of 16 en route to claiming the continental title. When the two met again in the Brazilian league at Palmeiras' home ground, Botafogo won again and eventually secured a domestic and international double. Since that 2023 defeat, Botafogo have gone unbeaten against Palmeiras in five consecutive matches. Saturday's encounter at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field will test the limits of a rivalry that has transcended mere competition, with local commentators describing it as "collective catharsis" for fans and players alike. "It means a lot. The last few games between Botafogo and Palmeiras have been high-level and intense," defender Alex Telles told reporters on Friday. "It's a healthy rivalry for Brazilian football. It's great to see two Brazilian teams facing each other in the Club World Cup and also to have all four teams advancing (to the last 16)."
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Universidad de Chile keen to bring Rodrigo Ureña back
The Chilean Rodrigo Ureña is having a great season at Universitario de Perú, where he has become one of the pillars of the team led by Jorge Fossati, and is now preparing for the round of 16 in the 2025 Copa Libertadores (where they face none other than Palmeiras). The 32-year-old midfielder is in his third season with the Lima club, but at one of his best individual moments, including a recent and surprising call-up to the Chilean National Team by Ricardo Gareca. Advertisement Thus, his name is starting to be heard in the transfer market, and Universidad de Chile is at the top of the list of possible new destinations for Ureña. Is he returning to the U? The information emerged from Lima, and they also assure that Rodrigo Ureña is favored by the U's coach, Gustavo Álvarez. The player has a contract with the Peruvian club until December 2026, so if the U wants to sign him, they will also have to negotiate with Universitario. Ureña, who started his career in the youth ranks of Unión Española, debuted in the First Division with the U's jersey, where he couldn't establish himself in the team. He was loaned out on several occasions (playing for Cobresal and Temuco), and then went abroad to play in Colombia (América de Cali and Deportes Tolima), and finally joined Universitario de Deportes in 2023. Advertisement This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 Raul Sifuentes - 2025 Getty Images
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
In The End, Auckland City's FIFA Club World Cup Involvement Came Good
Christian Gray (left) produced one of the moments of the tournament so far. Back home in New Zealand, Christian Gray will soon be sharing something special with his students. They may even already know. As he and his Auckland City teammates approached their final Group C encounter with Boca Juniors at FIFA's Club World Cup in the United States on Tuesday, they would have feared the worst. Already eliminated from the tournament, Auckland, a semi-professional team, had let in 10 (ten) goals against Bayern Munich and six against Benfica. Meanwhile, Boca's hopes of qualification from the group hung in the balance; it required a Bayern victory in the other game and a goal rush, a possibility against the underdog, whose players work full-time jobs or study outside of soccer. As it happened, neither transpired. Not only that, Auckland produced one of the shocks of the competition—a highlight from a group stage that has seen Botofogo defeat Paris Saint-Germain and Flamengo upend Chelsea. Trailing in the second half, a corner arrived, and trainee teacher Gray nodded in a precious goal, which ultimately earned a point against a giant of South American soccer, one that has lifted the Copa Libertadores trophy six times and previously boasted the talents of legendary Diego Maradona. Despite Boca knowing elimination loomed large, it was impressive. Standing Proud Auckland City's players' market values are in the thousands of dollars, far adrift of the million-dollar mark—this in a tournament where the finest soccer talents are worth around nine figures in the transfer market. Their professions range from sales representatives to community coaches, and Auckland's winnings of roughly €4 million ($4.5 million) from the Club World Cup—peanuts to elite clubs—is a fortune for an entity and federation not used to dealing in such sums. Auckland's ratio of goals conceded to goals scored was 17:1 in the United States. The side qualified for the event as a top performer in its region. Had professional outfits from Australia been competing in the OFC Champions League—for clubs from Oceania—rather than with Asia's finest in the AFC Champions League, one of them might have made the Club World Cup in Auckland's place. 'Oceania's club football is deeply rooted in local communities, similar to Europe, although most clubs remain amateur,' the Auckland City general manager, Gordon Watson, told me before the U.S. adventure. 'We recognise the challenges, particularly around resources, but our key strength lies in our people.' FIFA's transformed competition is now heating up. The knockout stages see an all-Brazilian contest between Botofogo and Palmeiras, European matchups Benfica versus Chelsea and Real Madrid against Juventus, Flamengo's samba flair against Bayern Munich's precision, and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi facing ex-employer Paris Saint-Germain. Inter Milan vs. Fluminense, Manchester City vs. Al-Hilal, and Borussia Dortmund vs. Monterrey complete an intriguing set. Meanwhile, Auckland City, not to be confused with Auckland FC, is switching focus to games in the country's more modest regional leagues. It's a name that, for all its local identity, has taken on all comers around the globe and achieved a third-place finish at the Club World Cup in 2014. Now, after exiting the latest installment with the memory of a famous goal and result, which its outfield players could barely believe, it can consider the experience a success. FIFA's controversial Club World Cup is a work in progress. At least Auckland City's ride ended well.
Reuters
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Palmeiras and Botafogo set to rekindle heated rivalry on global stage
PHILADELPHIA, June 27 (Reuters) - In a nation where bitter football feuds typically simmer across generations, Botafogo and Palmeiras are poised to add another chapter to Brazil's explosive new rivalry when they meet in the last 16 of the Club World Cup on Saturday. The feud, which erupted in 2023, has seen dramatic twists both on and off the pitch. Palmeiras, spearheaded by teenage sensation Endrick, overturned a three-goal deficit to defeat Botafogo 4-3, a result that triggered the Rio club's collapse in the Brazilian championship race. Palmeiras subsequently clinched the league title, sparking tensions that spilled into public exchanges between club officials. Palmeiras president Leila Pereira called Botafogo's owner John Textor "an idiot" and suggested he should be "banned from Brazilian football" after the American alleged referee bias in favor of Palmeiras. The rivalry defies Brazil's traditional city-based football feuds, with Palmeiras hailing from Sao Paulo and Botafogo from Rio de Janeiro. Unlike the century-old feuds of Flamengo-Fluminense or Atletico-Cruzeiro, this cross-country animosity has evolved into a pressure-cooker dynamic, with each encounter carrying heightened stakes. Botafogo exacted revenge in the 2024 Copa Libertadores, eliminating Palmeiras in the round of 16 en route to claiming the continental title. When the two met again in the Brazilian league at Palmeiras' home ground, Botafogo won again and eventually secured a domestic and international double. Since that 2023 defeat, Botafogo have gone unbeaten against Palmeiras in five consecutive matches. Saturday's encounter at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field will test the limits of a rivalry that has transcended mere competition, with local commentators describing it as "collective catharsis" for fans and players alike. 'It means a lot. The last few games between Botafogo and Palmeiras have been high-level and intense,' defender Alex Telles told reporters on Friday. 'It's a healthy rivalry for Brazilian football. It's great to see two Brazilian teams facing each other in the Club World Cup and also to have all four teams advancing (to the last 16).' On Saturday in Philadelphia, a new chapter will be written in this captivating and intense rivalry that has gripped the South American nation.
CNA
11 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
Palmeiras and Botafogo set to rekindle heated rivalry on global stage
PHILADELPHIA :In a nation where bitter football feuds typically simmer across generations, Botafogo and Palmeiras are poised to add another chapter to Brazil's explosive new rivalry when they meet in the last 16 of the Club World Cup on Saturday. The feud, which erupted in 2023, has seen dramatic twists both on and off the pitch. Palmeiras, spearheaded by teenage sensation Endrick, overturned a three-goal deficit to defeat Botafogo 4-3, a result that triggered the Rio club's collapse in the Brazilian championship race. Palmeiras subsequently clinched the league title, sparking tensions that spilled into public exchanges between club officials. Palmeiras president Leila Pereira called Botafogo's owner John Textor "an idiot" and suggested he should be "banned from Brazilian football" after the American alleged referee bias in favor of Palmeiras. The rivalry defies Brazil's traditional city-based football feuds, with Palmeiras hailing from Sao Paulo and Botafogo from Rio de Janeiro. Unlike the century-old feuds of Flamengo-Fluminense or Atletico-Cruzeiro, this cross-country animosity has evolved into a pressure-cooker dynamic, with each encounter carrying heightened stakes. Botafogo exacted revenge in the 2024 Copa Libertadores, eliminating Palmeiras in the round of 16 en route to claiming the continental title. When the two met again in the Brazilian league at Palmeiras' home ground, Botafogo won again and eventually secured a domestic and international double. Since that 2023 defeat, Botafogo have gone unbeaten against Palmeiras in five consecutive matches. Saturday's encounter at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field will test the limits of a rivalry that has transcended mere competition, with local commentators describing it as "collective catharsis" for fans and players alike. 'It means a lot. The last few games between Botafogo and Palmeiras have been high-level and intense,' defender Alex Telles told reporters on Friday. 'It's a healthy rivalry for Brazilian football. It's great to see two Brazilian teams facing each other in the Club World Cup and also to have all four teams advancing (to the last 16).'
