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Japan Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Some fans question U.S. readiness for 2026 World Cup after Club World Cup experience
Fluminense fans celebrate after the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Inter Milan and Fluminense in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, June 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) soccer By STEVE REED Lifelong soccer fan Victor Dumois expressed concern about the United States co-hosting the 2026 World Cup after attending a recent Club World Cup match in Miami. 'I think after the Copa America, a weird phenomenon has occurred here," said Dumois, who is from Spain. 'There's people that don't like the World Cup being in the United States.' The Copa America championship game last year in Miami was a security nightmare, with overheated and ticketless fans breaking down the barriers at Hard Rock Stadium to get inside. Eventually the game was played, although some paying customers never were able to get to their seats because they were occupied. Some cited the debacle as one example of how unprepared the United States is to host soccer's biggest tournament. Fast-forward to this summer and the 32-team Club World Cup hosted solely in the United States. Dumois said security was tight this time around — almost to a fault. 'In Spain, it is different, you can just have an Uber or taxi take you right up to the stadium," Dumois said, sharing his thoughts on the Round 16 match between Real Madrid and Juventus. "Here in Miami, they have to leave you outside and far away. There's so many layers of security, it's too much.' The Club World Cup, which is entering the quarterfinals this weekend, has served as a tune-up for the United States which, along with Canada and Mexico, will host the 2026 World Cup in cities like Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle. So far, the club tournament has not been well-attended, except for a handful of matches. A Round of 16 knockout match at Charlotte's 75,000-seat Bank of America Stadium between Fluminense and Inter Milan drew just 20,030 fans. Stadium officials allowed fans who'd purchased upper deck tickets to move down to the lower bowl. Even then, lower bowl looked half full. Empty seats have been a common sight across the country. There are variety of reasons why. First, the club tournament simply isn't as popular as the World Cup, where players are competing for their countries rather than a club team. The costs — both for games and travel — have also kept some away. And, for some, there have been lingering concerns of potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at matches amid President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. The weather hasn't helped either. Benjamin Cabral lives in Boston, but his family is from Azoras, an autonomous region of Portugal. He said if FIFA hopes to grow the game in America, a scheduling change is necessary. Due to soccer's popularity in Europe, many club matches have been played in the middle of the day so fans overseas can watch games on television or livestream in real time at night. The downside is players have been forced to play with temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) while a major heat wave gripped the States. 'If they're trying to grow their game in the US, they need to make the games later,' Cabral said. 'It's too hot out here for the players." It hasn't been easy on fans, either. 'There's no roof, no screens, not much,' said Carlos Olguin, who made the trek from Mexico to Charlotte to watch Pachuca play Real Madrid. Next year's World Cup will be played during a similar time frame, beginning in mid-June and concluding in mid-July. Excitement surrounding the current event also remains a concern. 'The other thing in the city is that it should be more prepared for the event, because there are people who don't even know there's an event and so you go to a restaurant with the idea that there are flags, fans, more football things and there's nothing,' Olguin added of the Club World Cup. 'The city should be more prepared for the event, because there are people who don't even know there's an event.' As for the venues, spectators attending Club World Cup matches offered differing reviews of American stadiums and host cities leading up to the country hosting the World Cup for the first since 1994. "I'll be honest, the U.S. is not ready to host the World Cup," said Jeremy Zuniga from South Carolina. "There's too many people coming from South America, Europe, everybody.' Others, like Rogerio Bajos from Peru, feel differently. 'I think it's been good, we haven't had any problems," said Bajos, who also attended a CWC game in Miami. 'The parking is no problem, the security has been good. Overall, a stupendous spectacle.' Humberto Contasta from Miami said the Club World Cup should help the American co-hosts iron out some issues before next summer. Daniel Marques, who made the trek from Portugal to Charlotte for the sole purpose of watching Benfica battle Chelsea in a group play match, said he was impressed overall with how the tournament was run. Guilherme Altoe agreed. Altoe, who grew up watching World Cup matches in Brazil before moving to the United States nearly a decade ago, said he thinks the United States will put on a good event next summer. 'I think the United States has everything, all the infrastructure to host a World Cup,' he said. 'So we are excited to have them see all the fans from different places and have family come around and it will be a great time.' Freelancers Andrew Jaime-Mendez and Max Feliu Merce contributed to this report. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Chelsea vs Benfica: Lightning delays match, Enzo Maresca questions US as Club World Cup host
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca waves to the crowd at the end of the Club World Cup round of 16 match between Benfica and Chelsea in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, June 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca criticized FIFA's decision to host the Club World Cup in the United States after his team's match against Benfica faced a two-hour delay due to lightning on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, making the game last nearly five hours to complete. The match was interrupted with four minutes remaining in regulation time when fans were instructed to leave the stadium's seating area, marking the sixth weather delay in the tournament's first 50 games. "If they are already suspending six, seven eight games, probably there is something that is not working well," Maresca said, adding that the United States "is not the right place to do this competition." Chelsea ultimately secured a 4-1 victory over Benfica in extra time, despite the Portuguese team managing to score an equalizer through a stoppage-time penalty following the lengthy delay. Chelsea captain Reece James expressed his frustration, stating "had to sit and wait for a long period, and it's quite disruptive." The tournament has faced multiple challenges, including extreme heat with temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit at some venues during daytime matches scheduled to accommodate European television audiences. The expanded Club World Cup serves as a test run for the upcoming 48-team World Cup in 2026, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beachfront Living in Mumbai at Sunteck Beach Residences Sunteck Realty Learn More Undo FIFA has faced criticism regarding pitch conditions and match scheduling, along with their handling of weather-related interruptions throughout the tournament. Notably, despite the lightning warning that caused the delay at Bank of America Stadium, no actual rainfall occurred at the venue. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Japan Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Benfica beats Bayern Munich 1-0 to take top spot in Group C in the Club World Cup
Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup celebrates after scoring during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) soccer By MAX FELIU Andreas Schjelderup scored in the 13th minute to give Benfica a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday, sending the Portuguese club to the top of Group C in the Club World Cup. The loss dropped Bayern Munich to second place in the group. Boca Juniors was eliminated from contention by the result. Bayern suffered its first loss of the tournament as it struggled to find a rhythm ahead of the knockout stages later this week. The game was marked by high heat with temperatures reaching 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius). Schjelderup's early goal changed the dynamic. Though insufficient, Bayern made an attacking effort that fell short against Benfica's organized defense, leaving the German champions unable to find an equalizer despite increased pressure in the second half. Bayern entered the game with only four of the players that started in their Friday night win over Boca Juniors. Despite using all five substitutions at halftime to introduce Harry Kane, Konrad Laimer, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise and Jonathan Tah, Bayern was unable to score. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Players and fans at the Club World Cup are coping with high temperatures as a heat wave hits US
Benfica players take a cooling break during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Bayern players take a cooling break during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Bayern Munich's Sacha Boey poors water on his face during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Auckland City's Gerard Garriga refreshes himself during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Gerard Garriga cools off under the sprinklers during a water break in the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Gerard Garriga cools off under the sprinklers during a water break in the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Benfica players take a cooling break during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Bayern players take a cooling break during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Bayern Munich's Sacha Boey poors water on his face during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Auckland City's Gerard Garriga refreshes himself during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Gerard Garriga cools off under the sprinklers during a water break in the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Substitutes who watch from the locker room, abandoned practice sessions and sweat-soaked jerseys. A heat wave hitting a wide swath of the country is taking a toll on players at the FIFA Club World Cup. The grueling conditions could also be a preview of what's to come next summer when the United States, Canada and Mexico host soccer's premier event, the 2026 World Cup. Advertisement "It's impossible, it's terribly hot. My toes were sore, even my toenails were hurting, I couldn't stop or start. In the end, it's incredible, but since it's the same for everyone, there's no excuse," Atlético's Marcos Llorente said following a match against Paris Saint-Germain. A 'heat dome' of high pressure has settled in over the central and eastern United States, sending temperatures soaring into the 90s and above in many areas. That's rough on both Club World Cup players and fans, who can potentially experience dehydration and cramps, or more serious conditions like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. 'In Europe it's more of a dry heat and this is more of a humid heat. I think it's going to hit them twice as hard," fan Tyler Fernando said before Bayern Munich's match against Benfica on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the temperature was 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius) at game time. Advertisement Those at the Auckland City match against Boca Juniors in Nashville on Tuesday braved temperatures in the upper 90s. Male spectators went shirtless and fans sought sections where there was shade. Heat is of particular concern during big tournaments like the Club World Cup because the players don't have much time off to recover between games. And in the group stages, matches are usually staggered each day, meaning some teams play in the midday sun. Chelsea cut short a practice session in Philadelphia, where temperatures reached the 90s. "I always try to avoid excuse, I always try to be honest. It's not about excuses, it's about reality. It's an excuse when it's not hot, and we say it's hot. That's an excuse. But if it's hot, it's hot. But we are here, and we're trying to do our best,' Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said. Advertisement During a match between Borussia Dortmund and the Mamelodi Sundowns, Dortmond posted on social media: 'Our subs watched the first half from inside the locker room to avoid the blazing sun at TQL Stadium — never seen that before, but in this heat, it absolutely makes sense.' 'We always think about how we can help the team, how we can minimize a negative influence. And it was just very, very hot. We had cooling sticks in order to cool the players down. We had them waiting in the dressing room with the air conditioning,' Dortmond coach Niko Kovac said through an interpreter. 'This was very important for all of us. It's not only about tactics, but it's also about minimizing the load, minimizing the stress. The stress is already high enough." FIFA guidelines mandate breaks when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature — a composite of factors including temperature and humidity — reaches 89.6 degrees. The breaks usually occur around the 30th and 75th minutes. Cooling breaks were initially used at the 2008 Olympic final between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Nigeria at Beijing's National Stadium, where the on-field temperature reached 107 degrees. Advertisement But at the time, such breaks were rare. They became more commonplace following the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where a Brazilian labor court ordered hydration breaks when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature reached 89.6 degrees. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue went to social media to urge Club World Cup fans to exercise caution in the heat before Inter Miami's match against Palmeiras on Monday night, and Chelsea posted 'heat mitigation' guidelines on its official website before the Blues' match against Esperance on Tuesday. It's not just high temperatures that can impact summer tournaments: Five Club World Cup matches have been delayed by thunderstorms. The climate is going to be an increasing issue for FIFA as global temperatures rise. Sixteen cities will host World Cup games next year. Five of the stadiums that will be used have roofs to provide some sun protection. Advertisement At Mexico's venues, Mexico City and Guadalajara could be impacted by the summer's hurricane season, and in Monterrey, summer temperatures average in the 90s. After the the 2026 World Cup, the 2030 edition will be held in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. And the problem isn't just on the men's side: The 2027 Women's World Cup is set to be played in Brazil. Peter Crisp from Fossil Free Football said: 'Scheduling matches in no-shade stadiums in the middle of the day and promoting oil-dependent sponsors shows FIFA is dangerously out of touch with the threat extreme heat poses to its major summer tournaments' ___ Club World Cup:
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Benfica beats Bayern Munich 1-0 to take the top spot in Group C in the Club World Cup
Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, left, and Bayern Munich's Joao Palhinha fight for the ball during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Benfica's Anatoliy Trubin blocks a shot during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni is attended to during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Bayern Munich's Sacha Boey poors water on his face during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup celebrates after scoring during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup celebrates after scoring during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, left, and Bayern Munich's Joao Palhinha fight for the ball during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Benfica's Anatoliy Trubin blocks a shot during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni is attended to during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Bayern Munich's Sacha Boey poors water on his face during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup celebrates after scoring during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Bayern Munich in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Andreas Schjelderup scored in the 13th minute to give Benfica a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday, sending the Portuguese club to the top of Group C in the Club World Cup. The loss dropped Bayern Munich to second place in the group. Boca Juniors was eliminated from contention by the result. Advertisement Bayern suffered its first loss of the tournament as it struggled to find a rhythm ahead of the knockout stages later this week. The game was marked by high heat with temperatures reaching 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius). Key moment Schjelderup's early goal changed the dynamic. Though insufficient, Bayern made an attacking effort that fell short against Benfica's organized defense, leaving the German champions unable to find an equalizer despite increased pressure in the second half. Key stat Bayern entered the game with only four of the players that started in their Friday night win over Boca Juniors. Despite using all five substitutions at halftime to introduce Harry Kane, Konrad Laimer, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise and Jonathan Tah, Bayern was unable to score. ___ AP soccer:
