Latest news with #SafidDeen
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
FIFA Club World Cup Final: Can Chelsea take down Paris Saint-Germain?
Chelsea FC and PSG have made it to the final of the Club World Cup. Safid Deen explains what Chelsea has to do to take down the dominant Paris Saint-Germain.
NBC Sports
12-07-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
FIFA slashes some ticket prices for Club World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium
Nearly one year to the day before MetLife Stadium will be hosting the FIFA World Cup Final, MetLife Stadium will be hosting the FIFA Club World Cup Final. For next year's event, the venue will sell out at any price for the tickets. This year, it's taking some effort. Via Safid Deen of USA Today, FIFA has slashed ticket prices in advance of Sunday's match between Paris-Saint Germain and Chelsea. The cheapest ticket has fallen from $312.20 to $249.75. Seats in the range of $440 to $546 have fallen to the range of $334.50 to $473.90. The most expensive tickets, however, have stayed expensive. East Club seats have held firm at $1,644.65. Seating in the EY Coaches Club remains $4,348.50 each. The 62-match (to date) tournament has drawn 2.4 million fans. It's an average of 38,000 per match. More than 20 of them have drawn more than 50,000. For the final match of Sunday, one spot has been reserved for someone who attended the most recent Super Bowl. President Donald Trump has said he'll attend the Club World Cup final.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Marques Bolden rises to block the shot
Huge moment for Mbappe and Real Madrid as they take on PSG in Club World Cup semifinals USA TODAY Sports' Safid Deen breaks down the highly anticipated showdown between Real Madrid and PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Proud Boca Juniors fans silenced by Benfica's Argentine World Cup champions in draw
Proud Boca Juniors fans silenced by Benfica's Argentine World Cup champions in draw Show Caption Hide Caption FIFA's new referee cam provides amazing view of action USA TODAY Sports' Safid Deen takes a look at the new camera attached to the referee's earpiece, giving fans a new perspective. Sports Pulse MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Boca Juniors fans are loud and proud. They'll sing and dance, and cheer for the Argentine team — anywhere they are. Thousands of Boca fans arrived on a beach in Miami on June 15 for a banderazo (sic), or a festival to congregate a day before games to show support for their favorite team. Boca fans even serenated shoppers inside a Walmart across the street from Hard Rock Stadium with chants before the club's first match in the FIFA Club World Cup on Monday, June 16. Once they entered the security gates, walked up the concourse and got to their seats, they made the home stadium of the NFL's Miami Dolphins shake like 'La Bombonera' — their beloved venue in Buenos Aires. Their passion and pride poured out of their souls as they waved their arms and jumped up and down to cheer. The devotion of the Boca Juniors fans is so passionate, they wouldn't even celebrate for the two players on their Portuguese opponents who helped Lionel Messi win the Qatar World Cup and two Copa America titles. Ángel Di María scored a penalty just before halftime, and Nicolás Otamendi scored the equalizer with a header in the 84th minute to help SL Benfica steal a 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors in the first group stage match for both clubs. Those were the only times Boca fans were quiet Monday. 'We really tried to win the game,' said Di María, who will return to his boyhood club Rosario Central in Argentina after the Club World Cup. 'We know what Argentine soccer is like, we know how we had to play.' Added Otamendi: 'We came back from 2-0 down, which was difficult, but we managed to equalize.' Miguel Merentiel (21') and Rodrigo Battaglia (25') scored in the first half for Boca Juniors. Several chants like 'Dale Boca. Dale, dale Boca' — Go Boca. Go, Go boca. — filled the air as an announced crowd of 55,574 fans attended the 6 p.m. ET match. Even though they spoiled the result, the Boca fans still cheered as the final whistle blew and clapped for their club as they walked off the field. 'The truth is that we're leaving with a bitter taste in our mouths,' Battaglia said. 'I think that given how the game went, we could have seen ourselves winning. Anyway, we're thankful to the people who came to support us here and to my teammates, who gave it their all.' Added Merentiel: 'The result, to be honest, doesn't favor us.' The drama in Group C of the tournament could come down to how much Boca Juniors and Benfica can score against Auckland City FC — the club from New Zealand filled with amateurs filling the Oceania region's bid in the Club World Cup. German giants FC Bayern München beat Auckland City FC, 10-0, on June 15 in Cincinnati. Expect both clubs to tee off on Auckland, while trying to get a result against Bayern. Benfica gets the first crack at Auckland on Friday at noon ET inside Orlando's Inter&Co Stadium, while Boca plays Bayern at 9 p.m. ET inside Hard Rock Stadium in the second matches for the clubs. At least Boca Juniors knows their fans will still be in South Florida for the next match. 'The truth is that it's crazy how people cheer. Every time you hear a shout, it makes you want to play, to give your all,' Boca Juniors substitute Tomás Belmonte said. 'We're very happy, very grateful to them, because all the effort they put in. We're going to give our all for them and for the whole team, because they really deserve it.' MORE: Club World Cup buzz is building as diehard soccer fans take over U.S. cities Argentine World Cup winner Diego Maradona famously played for Boca Juniors, winning his only domestic title with the club in 1981. They have a rich history, dating back to their inception in 1905. Boca rose to prominence in the early 2000s, winning Copa Libertadores titles in 2000, 2001 and 2003. They also beat Real Madrid in the 2000 Intercontinental Cup. 'To be a Boca fan, is to be a real Argentinean,' fan Nicholas De Oliveira said as he kissed the Boca Juniors logo on his jersey before the match. 'I love it. It feels so personal. These people are my family.' One thing to know about Boca Juniors: The club resonates with the lower- and middle-class, Robinson Rodriguez said before the match. You also don't have to be Argentine to support them. 'Boca is for the people,' said Rodriguez, a Colombian. 'We have probably one of the best followings in the world.' The Boca fans will surely make their presence felt again in the days leading up to their club's must-win match against Bayern on Friday. 'Boca is a passion. It's like a feeling. I can't explain it,' said Luis Rey, from Panama. 'We came a long road to come here and support our team. It's nice to hear all our songs, supporting Boca.' The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Referee cameras to debut at FIFA Club World Cup games. Fans get to see through refs' eyes
Referee cameras to debut at FIFA Club World Cup games. Fans get to see through refs' eyes Show Caption Hide Caption FIFA's new referee cam provides amazing view of action USA TODAY Sports' Safid Deen takes a look at the new camera attached to the referee's earpiece, giving fans a new perspective. Sports Pulse MIAMI – One unique way the FIFA Club World Cup will appeal to fans this summer is the introduction of the referee camera, which will provide viewers with point-of-view action they've never seen before watching soccer games. FIFA referees will wear tiny cameras on the sides of their heads, connected to a microphone and transmitter that will send the video to DAZN – the company broadcasting all 63 Club World Cup matches for free on its app and website. The video will also be shown inside six NFL stadiums during Club World Cup games so fans can experience the referee's decision-making process and enhance transparency during on-field reviews. Sports fans are typically accustomed to seeing cameras zoom in on referees making announcements during NFL and NBA games, while MLB fans have recently experienced the home-plate umpire's point of view from cameras on their facemask. If it goes well, maybe referee cameras could infiltrate the viewing experience in other sports. 'The main purpose is to offer the TV viewers a new experience," FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina told USA TODAY Sports this week during a Club World Cup referee training session in Miami. Referees will place customized molded earpieces into their right ears, then watch a screen as they adjust and tighten their cameras to the ideal angle for capturing the action. Two wires – one for the camera and the other for a microphone – will be clipped on the back collar either on the referee's uniform or an undershirt. And the transmitter, called a ballpack, will be placed in their shorts' pocket. FIFA tested several cameras, including some at chest level, but felt the side of the ear resulted in the best perspective. It offers a direct line of sight of the referees, especially when they turn their heads – something that wouldn't be offered if they wore a body camera on their chest. 'We were thinking about what's the best way to attach the camera,' said German referee Nicolas Winter, whose idea has come to life for the Club World Cup and could be employed by FIFA for other matches in the future. 'For us, it was important to have the original point of view of the referee because when you have a body cam and move your head to the right or left, you never really have the original point of view.' Added FIFA Director of Innovation Johannes Holzmuller: "If we replicate the referee view, it should really be 100% what the referee is looking at.' FIFA announced its referee cameras late last week, sharing a video of Pachuca's Oussama Idrissi dribbling around several defenders to score a goal in their win against Botafogo in a FIFA Intercontinental Cup match last December. The referee's camera captured the player receiving a pass from his teammate in the penalty area, the player's creative playmaking before firing the shot, the roar of the crowd and defenders helplessly looking up at the referee after the score. 'The view from the referee's camera was amazing,' Collina said. 'It's interesting.' Holzmuller says the video transmitted will be in 1080i quality, sent over a private 5G network so DAZN and the stadiums can use the video. Referees have worn the devices during their training sessions to get used to their ear molds, which aim to make the wearing experience more comfortable for them. The referees will also have assistance putting on their camera devices before matches to ensure they are recording as soon as matches begin. 'From there, it goes live on air,' Holzmuller said. FIFA will use the findings from the Club World Cup to create guidelines and explore the use of them in future matches. It's possible it could be a mainstay for soccer broadcasts – including next year's FIFA World Cup. Along with improving the fan experience, the referee cameras could also help them improve their craft. 'I was sitting at home on my couch seven years ago, thinking about how to improve refereeing,' Winter said. 'We have 30+ camera angles in a top match, but we can never see our own perspective after a match again. It's really helpful for us to analyze matches – like our positioning, for example. But I think it's good to give the audience and spectators a more transparent view, so they can understand what it means to be a referee. 'Of course, we are all human. We all make mistakes. But I think it's always good to show everyone the way decision making works.'
